'>*'.• 


%^^'«ii 


W" 


rwm^ 


tff 


JA 


iy?ii^ 


^gj;^Tomsc^ 


APR  ]  0  ir.34 


B^a/cs 


i  '^^  CjIUU 


bection 


#/<5/7 


BIOGRAPHICAL  DICTIONARY: 


CONTAINING 


A  BRIEF  ACCOUNT 


FIRST  SETTLERS, 


OTHER  EMINENT  CHARACTERS 

AMONG    THE 

MAGISTRATES,    MINISTERS, 
I^ITERARY  AND  WORTHY   MEN, 


NEW-ENGLAND. 


BY  JOHN  EUIOT,  D.D. 

Corr«sponding  Secretary  of  the  Massichusects  Hiscoiical  Society. 


fbese  were  honoured  in  their  generations,  and  were  the  glory  of 
their  times.  So7i  of  Syrach. 


PUBLISHED  BY  GUSHING  AND  APPLEToN,  SALEM, 

i^ND  EDWARD  OLIVER,    NO.   70,  STATE  STREET,   BOSTON. 

1809. 


K.  OLIVER,    PRINTFS. 


DISTRICT  OP  MASSACHUSE  TTS—To  -wit. 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  that  on  the  eighth  day  of  September,  in  the 
thirty  fourt'.i  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  [ohn 
Emot  junior,  of  the  said  district,  lias  deposited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a 
Book,  tlie  Right  whereof  he  claims  as  Proprietor,  in  the  words  following — to 
nvit  : 

*•  A  Biogjraphical  Dictionary,  containing  a  brief  account  of  the  first  settlers, 
and  other  eminent  cliaracters  among  the  magistrates,  ministers  literary  and 
worthy  men,  in  New  England.  By  John  Eliot,  I).  D.  Corresponding  .'secreta- 
ry 01  the  Massachusetts  t  istorical  Society 

These  were  honoured  in  their  generations,  and  were  the  glory  o<  their  times. 

SoK  OF  SyRACH." 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States  entitled, 
**  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copie.'  of  Maps, 
Charts  and  Books,  to  the  authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies,  dunng  the 
times  therein  mentioned  ;''  and  also  to  an  Act  entitled.  "  An  act  supplementa- 
ry to  an  \ct,  entitled  an  Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Ijcarning,  by  securing 
the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts  and  Book.s,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  Ruch 
Copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  ;  and  extending  the  benefits  there- 
of to  the  Arts  of  JDeaigning,  Engraving  and  Etching  Historical,  and  other 
Prints."  W I  LI  I  \  M  S.  SHAW, 

C/eri  of  the  District  of  Maisachusctls, 


PREFACE. 


«BKa::sr.3>®l'-^i®il!ll!r.Uis:i 


FOR  the  credit  of  human  nature,  some  men  have  appeared 
in  every  age,  who  adorned  their  lives  by  good  actions,  or  their 
publick  stations  by  the  dignity,  virtue,  and  splendid  excellencies 
of  their  characters.  Memoirs  of  such  persons  excite  a  lively  inter- 
est, and,  trom  adminng  their  extraordinary  qualities,  we  desire  to 
see  them  in  various  attitudes,  and  to  know  the  incidents  of  their 
private  life.  Hence  encouragement  is  given  to  works  ofbiogra- 
phv,  which,  in  some  form  or  other,  arc  daily  issuing  from  the 
press.  Even  short  sketches  of  eminent  men  have  been  thought 
instructive,  as  well  as  entertaining. 

The  first  discoverers  of  this  quarter  of  the  globe  possessed  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  in  a  very  un<:ommon  degree.  The  fathers  of 
New  England  were  remarkable  for  their  piety  and  moral  worth, 
and  also  for  their  active  virtues.  They  were  men  of  firmness  and. 
resolution,  ready  to  endure  every  sufi*ering,  for  the  sake  of  civil 
and  religious  freedom.  They  had  to  level  forests  where  savage 
beasts,  and  savage  men  had  roamed  for  ages,  and  to  make  com- 
fortable dwelling  places  amidst  barren  deserts.  By  their  sagaci- 
ty and  prudence,  their  attention  to  the  means  of  improving  their 
situation,  they  soon  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  civilized  and  cultivat- 
ed society.  Among  the  first  planters,  we  find  men  of  genius  and 
literary  acquirements,  who  would  have  been  conspicuous  as 
statesmen  in  the  courts  of  Europe,  or  as  divines  of  the  church  of 
England.  It  is  no  v  onder  that  their  characters  were  so  highly 
esteemed  by  the  puritans  in  their  own  country,  or  that  they  shone 
as  lights  in  the  dark  places  of  this  American  wilderness.  Cot- 
ton, Hooker  and  Davenport  might  well  rank  with  the  Lightfoots 
and  Owens  of  the  age  ;  they  had  equal  reputation  as  scholars  at 
the  universities.  President  Chauncy,  as  professor  of  Greek,  or 
Hebrew,  had  no  superiour,  and  might  have  had  any  preferment  in 
the  national  church,  if  he  had  become  subservient  to  the  views  of 


Iv  PREFACE. 

archbishop  Laud.  Norton  wrote  Latin  with  elegance  and  purity  \ 
his  name  was  celebrated  in  various  nations  of  hurope.  Less  is 
said  about  Roger  Williams  before  he  left  his  native  country.  He 
>vas  young,  and  perhaps  did  not  preach  with  the  same  force  as  he 
wrote.  All  who  peruse  his  works  will  wonder  at  the  vast  expan- 
sion of  his  mind,  and  lament  the  eccentricities  of  his  conduct. 

The  succeeding  generation  bore  a  resemblance  to  their  fathers 
in  their  character,  but  were  not  equal  to  them  in  erudition.  The 
Vvriter  of  the  Magnalia  divides  into  three  classes  the  eminent 
preachers,  who  emigrated  to  New  England.  The  first  were  in 
the  exercise  of  their  ministry  when  they  came  over.  They  were 
educated  either  at  Oxford,  or  Cambridge.  The  second  class 
comprehends  those,  whose  education  was  unfinished,  and  had 
only  such  advantages  to  complete  it,  as  they  could  obtain  in  the 
plantations.  Mr.  John  Higginson,  Mr.  Sherman  and  Thomas 
Thacher  were  the  most  famous  among  them.  The  third  con- 
sisted of  those  who  were  ejected  from  the  ministry,  after  the  res- 
toration of  the  monarchy,  and  establishment  of  the  episcopal 
church.  These  were  pious  and  good  men  ;  but  in  their  literary 
accomplishments  they  were  not  superiour  to  those  who  were 
educated  at  Harvard  College,  which  was  the  only  seminary  in 
North  America  for  many  years.  This  institution  could  not  vie 
vith  the  colleges  in  Europe  for  endowments ;  but  during  the 
civil  wars  of  England,  the  universities  lost  their  ablest  professors, 
and  less  attention  was  paid  to  the  means  ofmaking  eminent  schol- 
ars. We  may  well  suppose  that  polite  literature  would  fall  pros- 
Irate  with  the  laws  of  the  realm.  Few  went  to  the  pure  fountains 
of  classical  knowledge,  though  many  Greek  and  Roman  authors 
\vere  read.  The  works  of  their  theologians,  some  of  whom  were 
great  and  excellent  men,  displayed  the  stores  of  learning  with- 
out the  skill  and  graces  of  composition.  The  quaint  style  and 
manner,  which  then  prevailed  in  England,  was  imitated  by  our 
American  divines.  They  were  as  much  disgusted  with  the 
>vorksof  the  English  writersjwho  lived  in  the  reign  of  Charles  or 
of  William,  as  the  most  famous  authors  in  Great  Britain,  in  those 
reigns,  were  disgusted  with  the  writings  of  the  preceding  age. 
Cotton  Mather,  the  most  voluminous  American  author,  and  a  man 
of  immense  learning,  has  very  little  credit  with  the  present  gene- 
«'ation,  because  his  narrations  are  so  piolix,  and  so  many  strange 


fREFACE.  V 

things  occur  in  so  strange  a  style.  He  was  a  man  of  unbounded 
fancy,  astonishing  memory,  but  of  no  judgment.  With  his 
marvellous  stories  he  has,  however,  collected  many  facts,  and  it 
would  be  unpardonable  if  the  author  of  this  work  did  not  pay  a 
tribute  to  his  memory.  Every  writer  of  the  affairs  of  Massachu- 
setts is  much  indebted  to  him  for  the  use  of  his  materials. 

From  the  date  of  the  new  charter  we  find  very  few  leading  cha- 
ra(  ters,  who  were  not  born  and  bred  in  the  colonies  .  There  was 
no  great  encouragement  for  men,  who  had  genius  and  talents,  to 
come  over  to  New  England  for  the  sake  of  gaining  a  subsistence. 
At  this  time,  it  has  been  said,  that  learning  was  at  a  low  ebb  in  our 
country.  A  late  writer  has  thus  described  the  college  at  New 
Haven  :  "  The  students  had  heard  of  a  certain  new  and  strange 
philosophy  in  vogue  in  England,  and  the  names  of  Boyle,  Locke 
and  Newton  had  reached  them,  but  they  were  not  suffered  to 
think  that  any  valuable  improvements  were  to  be  expected  from 
philosophical  innovations"*  This  description  is  much  exagger- 
ated by  the  prejudices  of  a  party  writer.  One  of  the  governours 
of  Connecticut  had  been  the  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Boyle,  and 
was  a  principal  founder  of  the  royal  society.  Two  of  the  corpo- 
ration of  Harvard  College  were  fellows  of  the  royal  society  at  this 
very  time,  and  the  mode  of  instruction  was  the  same  in  both  se- 
minaries. Can  we  suppose  that  the  Newtonian  philosophy  was 
not  adopted,  or  that  the  first  characters  in  their  churches  and  col- 
leges were  sitting  so  contentedly  in  the  shades  of  ignorance  ? 
From  our  sketches  it  will  appear,  that  we  had  at  this  period  not 
only  students  in  the  new  philosophy,  but  scholars  who  excelled  in 
polite  learning.  Philological  inquiries  grew  fashionable,  and  very 
excellent  productions  appeared  from  the  hands  of  gentlemen  in  civil 
life,  as  well  as  from  the  clergy.  It  is  true  that  these  were  days  of 
tranquillity,  and  such  times  are  not  favourable  to  great  exertions. 
If  we  except  the  disturbances,  which  were  caused  by  Indian  wars, 
we  can  hardly  conceive  of  a  more  happy  state  of  society,  than 
New  England  exhibited  for  the  first  half  of  the  18th  century. 
The  people  were  submissive  to  the  laws.  There  was  order  in 
the  cities,  peace  in  the  villages,  and  religion  in  the  temples .  These 
are  not  the  times  to  display  great  talents  any  more  than  great 

Chandler's  life  of  Dr,  Jahnson,  president  of  King's  College, 


Vi  PREFACE. 

crimes.  When  occasion  cilled  forth  the  exertions  of  America^ 
citizens,  they  discovtred  vigour,  abilities,  as  well  as  patriotism, 
strong  and  manly  virtues  with  political  skill,  and  all  that  energy 
of  cliaracter  necessary  for  raising  provinces  into  an  empire. 
During  the  course  of  the  war,  tlic  officers  of  the  American  army 
showed  courage  and  magnanimity.  They  were  brave,  active^ 
with  a  spirit  of  enterprise,  and  would  have  obtained  distinction  in 
the  armies  or  hLurope.  The  meml)ers  of  the  first  congress  were 
viewed  witli  admiration  bordering  on  entlmsiasm.  Their  abilities 
as  statesmLn,and  their  political  integrity, did  honour  to  the  United 
States,  and  gained  them  respect  from  the  great  men  of  other  na- 
tions. They  certainly  have  a  claim  upon  the  gratitude  of  poster- 
ity. If  more  particular  attention  have  been  i>aid  to  one  part  ot  this 
biographical  work,  it  is  in  doing  justice  to  the  characters  of  tliose 
who  lived  between  the  peace  o^-  PariSv  and  the  commencement  of 
the  American  revolution.  The  age  ot  the  writer  made  every 
thing  impressive.  Me  was  acquamted  witli  those  who  were  ac- 
tive in  our  publick  concerns,  and  has  been  favoured  with  written 
)iccountSf  that  are  strengthened  by  tl»e  opinion  and  conversation  of 
those  who  are  still  alive.  Whenever  he  has  recurred  to  the  pub- 
lications of  the  day,  he  has  endeavoured  to  gain  collateral  evidence 
to  make  the  representation  just.  In  writing  biography  we  ought 
to  be  very  carelV.i  about  taking  the  character  from  newspapers. 
Facts  are  not  always  to  be  depended  upon ;  characters  very  sel* 
dom.  If  the  deceased  had  virtues  they  are  exaggerated  by  his 
friends  ;  and  howofienare  particular  delineations  made  by  those 
who  knew  not  tlie  man  !  A  pen  is  employed  which  is  elegant,  and 
if  the  sketch  is  done  in  tne  best  manner,  there  is  no  inqmry  whe- 
ther it  be  true  ?  If  we  had  no  other  knowledge  of  men,  but  what 
".ve  get  from  newspapers,  would  there  be  a  proper  discrimination 
between  the  good  and  bad  members  of  society  ? 

A  remark  of  a  sin>ilar  kind  may  be  made  upon  funeral  ser- 
mons If  they  are  not  in  the  style  of  eulogy  they  are  not  printed. 
What  the  preacher  says  he  doubtless  believes  ;  but  how  often  is 
Viis  opinion  different  from  that  of  his  audience  ?  How  many  fu- 
neral orators  paint  nothing  ?  Such,performances  require  a  nice 
and  delicate  pencil  to  finish;  but,in  general,  they  are  the  most  un- 
studied conipo>itions  of  their  authors.  This  is  not,  however,  what 
Tzrst  excited  the  remark.  Our  objection  is,  that  they  are  not  pure 


PREFACE,  vii 

sources  of  information.  A  preacher  is  to  say  nothing  but  good 
of  the  dead  ;  a  writer  of  lives  nothing  but  the  truth;  for  he  exhi- 
bits men  as  they  were.  The  preacher  is  apt  to  give  a  general 
view  of  the  characters  ;  it  is  the  object  of  the  biographer  to  enter 
into  the  most  minute  details.  All  funeral  sermons,  however,  are 
not  liable  to  the  same  censure.  Those  preached  upon  the  death 
of  ministers  sometimes  bring  an  obscure  clergyman  into  view, 
who  preferred  the  shade,  as  the  most  agreeable  situation,  but 
whose  virtues  and  talents  ought  to  be  known,  that  others  might 
be  stimulated  by  the  example.  On  the  other  hand,  preachers 
often  say  belter  things  of  their  brethren  than  they  deserve ;. 
upon  no  occasion  is  friendship  or  flattery  more  indelicate- 
ly manifested.  The  reputation  of  ihe  deceased  depends  in 
some  measure  upon  the  orator  If  his  performance  be  admired, 
strangers  who  read  it  will  think  highly  of  the  subject.  If  the  dis-. 
course  be  dull  or  inelegant,  it  perhaps  is  not  printed,  and  no  cha- 
racter published.  However  eminent  the  deceased  was  in  life,  h& 
is  not  known  beyond  the  line  of  his  near  acquaintance,  among 
whom  his  reputation  is  long  preserved  by  a  moat  afl'ectionate  re*^ 
membrance. 

The  author  of  this  work  has  taken  the  freedom  to  mingle  his 
own  observations  with  the  documents  received  from  others.  His, 
taste  always  led  him  to  collect  curious  mss.  and  ancient  books  ;  he 
was  favoured  with  many  letters  ot  tne  Huichinson  and  Oliver 
families  ;  and  had  free  access  to  the  books  and  mss.  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Historical  Society.  He  has  mostly  wriiten  from  one 
general  mass  of  inrermation,which  he  has  been  many  years  in  col- 
lecting ;  but  where  lie  has  been  indebted  for  pnncipal  facts  he  has 
pointed  to  the  main  source  of  his  inieiligence.  The  original  de- 
sign was  to  give  a  view  of  eminent  men  in  North  America.  The 
difficulty  of  obtaining  documents,  or  such  peculiar  notices  as  are 
necessary  for  proper  delineations  of  characters, induced  the  writ- 
er to  confine  himself  to  New  England  Some  articles  in  its  pres- 
ent form  are  omitted,  which  would  be  equally  intere' ting  as  those 
which  appear.  Certain  notices,  which  he  expected  to  receive,  di4 
not  arrive  till  it  was  too  late  for  their  insertion.  He  particularly 
regrets  the  omission  of  judge  Trowbridge  of  Cambridge,  gov. 
Jeiiks  of  Rhode  Island,  Mr.  Hobart  of  Fairfield,  Mr.  i-.IIsworth, 
^r.  Tracy,  and  several  other  gentlemen  of  distinction  in  Con- 
aecticut. 


vhi  PREFACE. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  work,  several  lives  are  disproportionate} 
to  the  general  scale,  which  obliged  the  author  to  compress  tlie 
articles  in  other  parts,  and  under  the  last  letters  of  the  alphabet 
to  introduce  no  person  who  has  died  since  the  commencement  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  Among  those  are  several  magistrates  of 
this  state,  president  VVillard  and  professor  Tappan  of  Cambridge, 
and  several  eminent  clergymen.  Memoirs  of  these  gentlemen 
have  been  published  lately,  and  their  characters  ably  and  fully 
delineated;  but  with  the  addition  of  such  names,  any  work  would 
be  materially  improved.  If  the  book  should  ever  pass  through 
another  edition  improvements  may  be  expected. 

For  the  errors  which  the  reader  may  find  in  the  following  pages 
some  apology  ought  to  be  made,especially  for  the  transposition  of 
several  names  and  the  misplacing  of  figures  in  the  dates.  These 
are  corrected  among  other  typographical  errata.  One  name  is  in- 
troduced, page  35 1,  which  ought  not  to  appear  among  persons  de- 
ceased. Those  who  thought  the  information  of  his  death  correct, 
are  happy  to  learn  that  the  gentleman  still  lives. 

In  the  course  of  his  proceeding  the  author  has  been  indebted 
to  several  friends  for  their  suggestions,  encouragement  and  assist- 
ance. Without  their  kind  attentions  his  labour  would  have  been 
wearisome.  The  delicacy  and  warmth  of  their  friendship 
have  excited  sensations  which  are  better  felt  than  expressed  ; 
for  their  literary  communications,  as  well  as  tokens  of  their  es- 
teem and  affection,  he  begs  them  to  accept  his  grateful  acknowl- 
edgements. 


NEW-ENGLAND 
BIOGRAPHICAL  DICTIONARY. 


.:ooo: 


ABBOT  HULL,  minister  of  the  church  in 
Charlestown,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  ;  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1720.  He  was  among  the 
first  students  that  were  put  upon  Mr.  HoUis's  foun- 
dation, and  recommended  by  Mr,  HoU'is  himself^  as 
a  youth  meriting  the  benefit  of  the  fund  for  indi- 
gent and  good  scholars.  In  1723  he  was  ordained, 
colleague  pastor  with  the  famous  Mr.  Bradstreet, 
and  continued  in  the  ministry  till  his  d^ath,    1774, 

He  left  a  few  printed  discourses,  chiefly  occa- 
sional, and  his  character  was  respectable  as  a  gen- 
tleman and  divine.* 

Adams  Matthew,  is  worthy  of  notice  in  an  ac- 
count of  ingenious  and  literary  men  of  Boston.  In  the 
life  of  Franklin  it  is  said,  that  he  kindled  the  zeal  and 
encouraged  the  talents  of  that  philosopher,  who  had 
free  access  to  his  books;  and  L3r.  Franklin  speaks  of 
him  with  respect  and  acknowledged  his  attentions* 
Mr.  Adams  was  only  a  mechanick,  but  with  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  college  education  would  have  made 
considerable  progress  in  scientifick  researches,  and 
been  very  useful  at  that  period  He  was  one  of  the 
writers  in  the  Neiv- England  Journal.     The  essays 

*  His  printed  discourses  are,  Artillery  Election  Sermon,  8vo,' 
Boston,  1735.  A  Sermon  upon  the  rebellion  in  Scotland,  8vo. 
1746.    A  Sermon  against  profane  swearing  and  cursing,  8 vo. 

1747. 

B 


2  ADA 

he  contributed  were  received  with  marks  of  pub- 
lick  ebteem,  and  reprinted  in  periodical  miscellanies 
of  later  date.  Like  many  other  ingenious  men, 
Mr.  Adams  lived  in  depressed  circumstances,  and 
died  with  a  name  and  character  rather  than  any 
\\  orldly  estate.  He  left  several  children,  who  in- 
herited his  genius,  one  of  whom  was 

John  Adams,  minister  of  the  church  in  Dur- 
ham, New-Hampshire.  His  father  laboured  to  give 
him  a  liberal  education,  and  he  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1745,  and  in  a  few  years  after 
ordained  at  Durham,  where  he  continued  pastor  of 
the  church  more  than  twenty  years.  No  town  in 
New  Kngland  was  ever  more  disturbed  by  fanat- 
icks  than  Durham.  A  spirit  of  opposition  to  the 
order  of  the  churches  raged  there.  Every  man 
who  received  a  liberal  education,  who  wore  a  band 
or  black  coat,  and  held  a  regular  service  on  the 
Lord's  day,  was  called  hireling,  thief,  wolf,  and 
any  thing  that  would  make  him  odious.  They 
after  this  manner  insulted  this  pious  minister,  who 
had  not  patience  to  bear  it,  and  was  often  inveloped 
in  gloom,  or  ready  to  sink  into  despondency.  This 
might,  in  some  measure,  be  owing  to  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  man.  For  he  was  in  his  best  days,  and 
when  he  was  not  exposed  to  peculiar  trials  of  his 
ministry,  very  much  the  sport  of  his  feelings. 
Sometimes  he  was  so  depressed  as  to  seem  like  a 
being  mingling  with  the  dust,  and  suddenly  would 
mount  up  to  heaven  with  a  bolder  wing  than  any  of 
his  contemporaries.  M  his  would  happen  frequent- 
ly in  the  pulpit,  so  that  when  he  had  been  all  the 
week  preparing  a  sermon  which  was,  according  to 
his  own  expression  as  dull  as  his  feelings,  he  would 
feel  an  exertion  that  would  give  him  health,  cheer- 
fulness, and  new  life.  It  was  his  method  to  take  a 
new  text,  and  give  a  flow  to  his  sentiments  and  ex- 
pressions, vvluch  were  much  better  than  he  was 
ever  able  to  utter,  with  previous  consideration.  His 
delivery  then  was  as  lively  as  his  tancy.     In  these 


ADA  S 

happy  moments  he  was  also  a  cheerful,  instructive 
and  entertaining  companion.  He  could  write  as 
well  as  speak,  like  one  Avho  had  cultivated  a  philo- 
logical taste.  A  specimen  of  his  abilities  was  ex- 
hibited in  a  letter  written  to  a  committee  of  the 
town  of  Boston,  1774,  when  the  Fort  Bill  had  an- 
nihilated their  commerce.* 

Mr.  Adams  was  obliged  to  leave  Durham  in  the 
year  1778,  in  consequence  of  other  disturbances 
than  religious.  He  had  been  thought  the  most  pro- 
per minister  to  live  with  people  so  enthusjastick  as 
the  inhabitants  of  Durham  :  for  he  was  himself, 
from  his  animal  frame  and  pious  sentiments,  inclii> 
ed  to  enlhubiasm  ;  had  rather  favoured  than  oppos- 
ed the  New  Lights  in  his  youth,  and  preached  the 
gospel  according  to  the  strictest  sect  of  our  forefa- 
thers  ;  but  as  one  extreme  succeeds  another,  the 
most  cold  indifference  to  every  thing  of  a  religious 
nature  was  visible  in  the  inhabitants  of  Durham 
during  the  latter  part  of  Mr.  Adams's  pastoral  rela- 
tion ;  and  they  grew  weary  of  maintaining  a  minis- 
ter, in  addition  to  the  demands  of  money,  to  carry 
on  the  war ;  a  contention  arose  upon  the  most 
frivolous  pretences,  and  a  council  advised  to  a  remo- 
val. He  was  soon  invited  to  settle  at  Washington, 
in  the  county  of  York,  Massachusetts.  With  this 
flock  he  lived  in  more  easy  circumstances.  He 
died  1793,  aged  about  60  years. 

Adams  John  Rev.  a  divine,  a  poet,  a  Vv^r  iter  of  es- 
says, &c.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Hon.  John  Adams,  of 
>Jova- Scotia,  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1701.  He  died  at  Cambridge,  1740.  The  fellows  of 
the  College  were  his  pall-holders,  and  the  first  charac- 
ters in  the  state  attended  the  funeral.  His  charac- 
ter was  very  respectable,  though  doubtless  the  eulogy 
in  the  Boston  newspapers,  was  from  the  pen  of  one 
strongly  prejudiced  in  his  favour — *'  It  deserves  to 

*  There  was  a  committee  appointed  to  receive  donations.  The 
letter  was  accompanied  with  a  present  from  the  inhabitants  oi' 
Durham. 


i  ADA 

be  written  in  letters  of  gold  on  monuments  of  mar- 
ble, or  rather  to  appear  and  shine  forth  from  some 
genius  of  uncommon  sublimity  and  equal  to  his 
own.  But  sufficient  are  his  immortal  writings  to 
perpetuate  his  memory."  His  literary  friends  is- 
sued proposals  for  publishing  a  volume  ot  his  ser- 
mons, but  the  subscription  failed.  They  publish- 
ed a  volume  of  poems  which  discover  a  good 
imagination  and  pure  taste.  They  are  equal  to  any 
New-Kngland  poetry  of  this  date,  though  not  merit- 
ing in  the  encomium  passed  upon  his  writings.  A 
second  edition  was  never  called  for.  The  book  is 
very  scarce,  and  ought  to  be  preserved  among  the 
rare  works  of  American  authors. 

He  published  during  his  life,  a  poem  on  the  love 
of  money,  which  is  ingenious  and  satirical.  It  is 
not  contained  in  the  volume. 

Adams  Amos,  minister  of  the  first  church  in  Rox- 
bury,  was  a  very  popular  preacher,  having  a  voice 
uncommonly  sonorous  and  plaintive.  The  energy  of 
his  manner  in  the  pulpit  is  often  mentioned  by  those 
who  sat  under  his  ministry.  He  was  praised  in  other 
churches,  as  a  very  accomplished  preacher,  but 
many  were  disgusted  with  his  plainness  of  speech, 
the  length  of  his  discourses,  and  his  very  desultory 
observations.  All  allowed  him  to  discover  some 
knowledge  of  human  nature,  in  the  addresses  he 
made  to  his  hearers.  His  preaching  was  calcula- 
ted to  prick  the  consciences  of  sinners,  though  they 
wanted  correct  discrimination  and  smoothness  of 
period.  His  memory  was  tenacious,  and  his  read- 
ing very  extensive.  His  publications  never  appeared 
to  satisfy  the  expectations  of  those  who  heard  thm 
from  the  pulpit.    They  want  his  animated  delivery. ^- 

*  He  primed  several  ordination  sermons,  A  funeral  sermon 
upon  the  death  of  Madam  Dudley.  A  Thanksgiving  discourse, 
1759. 

The  discourses  which  give  him  the  most  reputation  were  two 
nfion  religious  liberty  ;  and  two  upon  the  siffcriiigs  of  our  father  s, 
which  were  rt -printed  in  hnglund,  not  is  sermons,  but  with  the 
title  of  a  Concise  History  ofJ\eiv-Enstand^   The  evangelical  sen^ 


ADA  5 

Mr.  Adams  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  1752, 
and  died  at  Roxbury,  October,  1778,  to  the  inex- 
pressible grief  of  his  family  and  flock.  At  this 
time  a  putrid  dysentery  prevailed  in  the  camp  at 
Roxbury  and  Cambridge,  which  spread  more  than 
twenty  miles  in  the  environs  of  Boston.  The  peo- 
ple of  the  first  church  in  Roxbury  were  very  much 
scattered)  but  Mr.  Adams  was  assiduous  in  his  la- 
bours, and  not  only  visited  his  own  flock,  but  the 
soldiers  who  were  stationed  among  the  people  of 
his  parochial  charge.  He  himself  soon  fell  a  victim 
to  the  disease. 

Adams  Samuel,  a  man  celebrated  in  the  an- 
nals of  America,  was  as  remarkable  for  his  piety 
and  puritanism,  in  younger  life,  as  for  his  political 
influence,  during  the  contests  of  the  merican  revo- 
lution. He  was  born  September,  1722,  in  Boston. 
His  ancestors  were  respectable,  among  the  early 
planters  of  New- England,  but  not  sufficiently  dis- 
tinguished to  be  inserted  in  a  genealogical  list ;  and 
every  kind  of  genealogy  he  affected  to  despise,  as 
a  thing  which  gives  birth  to  family  pride.  His  ed- 
ucation was  liberal,  having  commenced  his  studies 
at  the  South  Grammar  School,  under  the  care  of 
Mr.  Lovell.  He  entered  Harvard  College  A.  D. 
1736.  The  honours  of  that  seminary  he  received 
in  the  years  1740  and  1743  He  made  a  very  con- 
siderable progress  in  classical  learning,  the  art  of 
logic,  as  it  was  then  taught,  as  well  as  the  elements 
of  natural  philosophy.  But  his  main  object  was  the 
study  of  divinity,  as  he  was  designed  for  the  min- 
istry. 

He  was  always  fond  of  systematic  divinity,  and 
was  a  Calvinist,  of  the  straitest  sect  of  that  denomi- 
nation. It  was  the  belief  of  our  fathers,  and  he  nev- 
er spake  of  them  but  with  the  greatest  reverence. 

tiraents  are  curtailed.  We  see  little  nioie  then  the  dry  bones 
of  a  skeleton,  not  well  hung  together.  Al»  his  printed  discourses 
are  bound  in  two  volumes,  8yo.  which  he  presented  to  the  Coir 
lege  Library. 


6  ADA 

The  platlbrm  of  the  New- England  churches,  in  his 
view,  contained  every  thing  necessary  or  proper  for 
the  order  and  discipline  of  ecclesiastical  bodies,  an4 
the  Westminster  assembly's  shorter  catechism^  all 
the  articles  of  sound  doctrine. 

Why  he  did  not  engage  in  a  profession,  which 
was  so  congenial  to  his  views  and  habits,  does  not 
appear  ;  but  for  many  years  he  was  uncertain  what 
line  of  life  to  pursue.  He  only  engaged  in  a  petty 
kind  of  trafficking  ;  his  business  was  small,  his  sit- 
uation humble,  and  he  seemed  to  walk  in  the  vales 
and  descents  of  life,  rather  than  to  be  formed  for  con- 
spicuous stations  or  very  active  scenes.  The  same 
political  cast  of  mind  then  appeared,  which  influen- 
ced his  conduct  afterwards.  If  he  spake  of  men  and 
manners  it  was  freely  to  canvass  them  ;  his  conver- 
sation was  in  praise  of  old  times,  his  manners  were 
austere,  his  remarks  never  favourable  to  the  rising 
generation  ;  and  he  would  depreciate  the  talents 
and  services  of  those  who  held  offices  of  honour 
and  public  trust.  No  man  ever  despised  more 
those  fools  of  fortune,  whom  the  multitude  admire  ; 
and  yet  he  thought  the  opinion  of  the  common  peo- 
ple in  most  cases  to  be  very  correct. 

As  we  have  said  his  employment  was  humble,  it 
may  be  proper  to  mention  that  his  first  office  in  the 
town  was  thit  of  tax  gatherer  ;  which  the  opposite 
party  in  politicks  often  alluded  to,  and  in  their  con- 
troversies would  style  him  Samuel  the  Publican, 
While  the  British  regiments  were  in  town,  the  to- 
nes enjoyed  a  kind  of  triumph,  and  invented  every 
mode  of  burlesquing  the  popular  leaders  :  but 
where  the  people  tax  themselves  the  office  of  col- 
lector is  respectable  ;  it  was  at  that  time  given  to 
gentlemen  who  had  seen  better  days,  and  needed 
some  pecuniary  assistance,  having  merited  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  their  fellow  townsmen. 
Mr.  Adams  was  ill  qualified  to  fill  an  office  which 
required  such  constant  attention  to  pecuniary  mat- 
ters ;  and,  his  soul  being  bent  on  politicks,  he  pass- 


ADA  7 

ed  more  time  in  talking  against  Great  Britain  than 
in  collecting  the  sums  due  to  the  town.  He  grew 
embarrassed  in  his  circumstances,  and  was  assisted, 
not  only  by  private  friends,  but  by  many  others 
who  knew  him  only  as  a  spirited  partisan  in  the 
cause  of  liberty. 

From  this  time,  the  w^higs  were  determined  to 
support  him  to  the  utmost  of  their  power.  He  had 
been  always  on  their  side,  was  jBrm  and  sagacious, 
one  of  the  best  writers  in  the  newspapers,  ready 
upon  every  question,  but  especially  conversant  with 
all  matters  which  related  to  the  dispute  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  colonies. 

The  people  in  the  north  section  of  the  town 
were  then  more  numerous  than  they  have  been 
since ;  and  were  by  a  very  large  majority  on  the 
side  of  freedom.  When  Pownal  was  in  the  chair, 
he  favoui  ed  this  party,  and  lifted  several  men  to  of- 
fice w^hose  merit  was  rather  in  their  principles  and 
notions,  than  in  their  sagacity.  It  answered  his 
purpose,  which  was  to  deteat  the  schemes  of  Hutch- 
inson :  and  it  really  had  a  surprising  effect  upon 
the  transactions  of  the  town. 

Mr.  S.  Adams  was  well  acquainted  with  every 
shipwright,  and  substantial  mechanick,  and  they 
were  his  firm  friends  through  all  the  scenes  of  the 
revolution,  believing  that  to  him  more  than  any 
other  man  in  the  community  we  owed  our  independ- 
ence. This  sentiment  prevailed  with  many  who 
disliked  his  opinion  of  federal  measures,  and  who 
would  not  vote  for  him  to  be  governor  of  the  com- 
monw^ealth.  They  would  often  say  that  he,  from 
his  age,  habits  and  local  prejudices,  was  not  form- 
ed to  mingle  with  politicians  of  a  later  period, 
whose  views  must  necessarily  be  more  comprehen- 
sive, and  whose  object  was  to  restrain  rather  than 
give  a  loose  to  popular  feelings.  It  was  their  opin- 
ion, however,  that  he  did  worthily  in  those  times, 
when  instead  of  building  up  a  government  suited 
to  the  condition  of  a  people,  w^e  had  only  to  puH 


8  ADA 

down  a  government  becoming  every  day  more  ty- 
rannical. When  the  stamp  act  was  the  subject  of 
conversation,  ol*  public  resentment,  and  succeeding 
tumults,  Mr.  Adams  was  one  of  those  important 
characters,  who  appeared  to  oppose  it  in  every 
step  He  did  not  think  it  amiss  to  pull  down  the 
office,  though  he  disapproved  of  the  riotous  pro- 
ceedings which  the  same  lawless  men  were  guilty 
of  afterwards  ;  for  every  succeeding  night  witness- 
ed the  rage  of  an  inf:ituated  populace,  and  no  man 
in  any  office  whatever  was  safe  in  his  habitation. 
If  a  man  had  any  pique  against  his  neighbour  it  was 
only  to  call  him  a  few  hard  names,  and  his  proper- 
ty would  certainly  be  destroyed,  his  house  pulled 
down  and  his  life  be  in  jeopardy.  The  authority  of 
the  town  put  an  end  to  this  savage  conduct  by 
calline:  out  the  militia ;  and  soon  after  the  news  of 
the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act  quieted  the  minds  of  all 
classes  of  people. 

The  taxes  upon  tea^  oil  and  colours  were  still 
more  odious  to  the  Americans  than  the  stamp  act  ; 
especially  to  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  where  the 
board  of  commissioners  was  established.  The  peo- 
ple looked  to  Mr.  Adams,  as  one  of  the  champions 
of  liberty,  who  must  stand  forth  against  every  claim 
of  Great  Britain,  and  deny  the  right  of  the  parent 
state  to  lay  a  tax  ;  nor  were  they  disappointed.  He 
"was  so  strenuous  in  his  exertions  to  make  the  peo- 
ple sensible  of  their  charter  privileges,  that  he  ob- 
tained the  appellation  of  the  patriot  Samuel  Adams* 

The  other  members  of  the  general  court,  from 
the  town  of  Boston,  were  Mr,  Otis,  Mr.  Gushing,  and 
Mr.  Hancock,  gentlemen  of  the  same  political  sen- 
timents, and  united  in  their  opposition  to  the  claims 
of  the  British  ministry.  Mr.  Adams  had  frequent- 
ly delivered  his  sentiments  in  the  publick  pa- 
pers ;  and  being  a  ready  penman  was  often  employ- 
ed on  committees  to  make  reports,  addresses,  &c. 
and  to  vindicate  the  acts  of  the  legislature.  He  as- 
sisted in  writing  most  of  the  letters,  which  were 


ADA  9 

sent  to  thei  secretary  of  state.  One  letter  addressed 
to  the  ^arl  of  Hillsborough  was  entirely  his.  His 
draught  was  accepted  by  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, and,  without  any  alteration,  sent  to  that  noble- 
man, who  was  supposed  to  be  most  inimical  to  the 
colonies  of  all  the  king's  servants  ;  and  whose  name 
was  never  mentioned  in  Massachusetts  without  re- 
proach. 

In  the  year  1769,  the  governor  removed  tlie 
general  court  to  Cambridge.  The  members  con- 
sidered it  as  an  infringement  of  their  rights.  Mr. 
Adams  w^as  on  the  committee  to  draw'  up  their  re^ 
monstrances,  which  were  warm  and  urgent.  For 
several  years  the  governor  thus  obeyed  his  instruc- 
tions, to  keep^  the  assembly  out  of  Boston.  There 
were  some  altercations  among  the  representatives, 
whether  they  would  proceed  or  not  to  business ; 
and  when  it  was  determined  to  go  on,  there  was  a 
spirited  protest,  in  which  our  politician  took  a  very 
conspicuous  part.  During  these  sessions  at  Cam- 
bridge, a  difference  of  opinion  arose,  upon  some  se- 
condary matters,  between  Adams  and  Hancock, 
which  cooled  their  friendship,  and  was  succeeded 
by  an  antipathy,  that  had  an  effect  upon  the  minds 
of  the  people,  many  of  whom  took  a  warm  interest 
in  this  personal  animosity,  though  they  agreed  in 
political  sentiments  ;  and  acted  together  in  the  great 
affairs  which  arrested  the  attention  of  all  the  whigs. 
The  first  impressions  v/ere  unfavourable  to  Mr.  Ad- 
ams; for  many  of  the  high  whigs  thought  him  aus- 
tere and  rigid  in  his  notions,  tliat  he  was  opinion- 
ated, and  that  his  object  was  as  much  to  mortify 
Hutchinson,  and  gratify  his  resentment  against  the: 
tories,  as  to  serve  the  cause  of  freedom.  Hancock 
was  the  idol  of  the  populace ;  his  spirit  was  gener- 
ous, he  enjoyed  an  affluence  of  wealth,  which  he 
was  ready  to  bestow  on  all  publick  occasions  :  he 
was  affable,  condescending,  and  very  engaging  in 
his  manners.  Mr.  Adams  preferred  to  be  thought 
a  Cato  rather  than  a  Lucullus.       His  friends  were 


10  ADA 

lessened  in  number,  but  they  were  the  sternest  re- 
publicans ;  and  those,  perhaps,  who  first  dared  to 
view  our  independence  as  near.    They  called  them- 
selves  the  most  consistent  whigs.       Others  called 
them  the  restless  spirits  ot"  their  party,  who  wished 
not  to  have  grievances  redressed,  but  to  sail  upon 
troubled  waves,  as   their  own  political  importance 
depended  upon  the  tumult  of  the  people.       They 
mixed  in  public  assemblies  ;  used  a  coarser  style 
of  speaking  in  the  streets ;  and  calculated  upon  the 
future  scenes  which  would  open  for  the  emancipa- 
tion   of  the   country. — The  period  soon  arrived  : 
The  battle  ot  Lexington  gave  the  moderate  party  a 
zeal  which  blazed,  and  every  man  became  a  patri- 
ot.    Adams  and  Hancock  were  proscribed  soon  af- 
ter by  Gage's  proclamation.  This  was  all  they  want- 
ed to  raise  their  reputation  to    the  highest  pitch. 
Before  they  covild  have  known  this,  they  had  rea- 
son to  be  satisfied  with  the  triumph  of  the  whigs, 
and  must  have  been  fully  persuaded  they  were  safe 
in  any  part  of  the  country.     These  gentlemen  were 
at  Lexington  the  very  night  the  British  troops  left 
Boston,  and  it  was  generally  supposed  that  part  of 
the  errand  was  to  take  them.     They  received  such 
intelligence  as  to  be  on  their  guard.       A  friend  of 
Mr.  Adams  spread  a  report  that  he  spake  with  plea- 
sure on  the  occurrences  of  the  19th  of  April,     "  It 
is  a  fine  day,"  said  he,  walking  in  the  field  after  the 
day  dawned      **  Very  pleasant  answered  one  of  his 
companions,"  supposing  him  to  be  contemplating 
the   beauties  of  the  sky.       *'  1  mean,"  he  replied, 
**  this  day  is  a  glorious  day  for  America."       So 
fearless  was  he  of  consequences,  so  intrepid  in  the 
midst  of  dangers,  so  eager  to  look  forward  to  the 
lustre  of  events  that  would  succeed  the  gloom  which 
then  involved  the  minds  of  the  people.    Mr.  Adams 
had  been  a  member  of  the  continental  congress  the 
preceding  year.     Mr.  Hancock  from  ill  health  was 
not  a  candidate  for  the  same  congress,  but  was  pre- 
sident of  the  provincial  assembly  which  bore  the 


ADA  li 

Hamc  of  provincial  congress  in  Massachusetts. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  congress  which 
»at  at  Philadelphia,  A.  D.  1775,  76,  &c. 

Among  the  southern  whigs  the  character  of  Mr. 
Adams  was  very  high.  He  was  looked  upon  as  an 
able  politician,  though  less  liberal  in  his  views, 
less  informed  in  great  questions  of  national  concern, 
than  several  characters  from  these  northern  states  : 
but  his  republican  sentiments  were  congenial  to 
the  sentiments  of  many  gentlemen  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia,  who  quoted  his  opinion  with  respect. 
There  were,  however,  some  southern  members  of 
congress  who  called  him  an  indifferent  statesman, 
a  local  politician,  one  whose  thoughts  were  always 
in  Fanieul  Hall,  and  bent  upon  establishing  the  cus- 
toms of  the  Plymouth  settlers  ;  or  introducing  the 
law^s  of  Massachusetts,  instead  of  that  enlightened 
policy  which  was  necessary  to  animate  a  great  na- 
tion ;  a  nation  w^ho  had  to  form  their  government, 
to  adapt  novel  opinions  to  the  prudence  of  old 
laws,  to  execute  some  of  the  noblest  schemes  ever 
designed  by  man,  and  which  no  other  state  of  hu- 
man affairs  had  ever  given  them  an  opportunity  to 
know  and  improve. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  secretary  of  the  stiite  of 
Massachusetts  in  the  year  1774,'  while  the  general 
court  were  at  Cambridge.  The  business  was 
performed  by  a  deputy  until  the  year  that  his  seat 
was  vacated  in  Congress.  He  was  never  after- 
wards a  candidate  for  any  office  out  of  Massachu- 
setts government.  While  he  sat  in  Congress  the 
declaration  of  Independence  was  made,  which  he 
urged  with  the  utmost  zeal.  Also  the  articles  of 
the  old  confederation  to  v  hich  he  was  always  much 
attached.  It  was  a  favorite  expression,  which  he 
often  gave  as  a  toast  in  public  companies  and  private 
circles — *'The  states  iinited^^nd  the  states  sepa?ate,^* 
There  was  also  another  matter  of  importance  which 
took  place  in  the  autumn  of  1777,  when  the  British 
troops  marched  to  Philadelphia,   it  was  given  out 


12  AD  A 

that  gen.  Washington  might  have  prevented  them. 
That,  although  an  excellent  and  very  amiable  cha- 
racter, he  was  too  much  a  Fabiiis  in  the  fitlcL  He 
had,  however,  fought  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine  with 
an  army  inferiour  to  the  enemy  ;  and  made  an  at- 
tack upon  Germantown  which  only  wanted  success 
to  make  it  add  much  to  his  military  reputation  ;  it 
being  well  planned,  and  the  general  discovering 
great  activity  and  coura  e  in  collecting  troops  who 
had  been  so  entirely  dispersed  a  few  days  before. 

An  alteration  w^as  contemplated  in  the  military 
arrangements,  and  the  public  papers  declared  that  a 
majority  of  Congress  had  determined  to  advance 
gen.  Gates  to  a  command  which  would  imply  a 
censure  upon  the  commander  in  chief.  Although 
this  did  not  originate  with  Mr.  Adams,  he  was 
known  to  be  unfriendly  to  Washington,  and  after 
this  he  was  not  a  favourite  with  certain  military  gen- 
tlemen who  had  been  his  most  active  partizans. 
Some  of  these  officers  had  a  conference  with  him 
in  Boston,  and  he  declared  that  he  never  meant  that 
Gates,  or  any  other  officer  who  was  not  born  in 
America,  should  supercede  Washington  or  be  com- 
mander in  chief.  Perhaps  he  only  meant  that  there 
should  be  separate  commands,  and  the  generals  to 
be  independent  of  each  other,  and  of  the  same 
rank,  and  to  look  to  the  Congress  for  the  chief  di- 
rection. 

Whether  he  Vv^as  attached  to  the  General,  or 
thought  him  the  most  proper  person  for  the  high 
office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  is  a  subject 
of  opinion,  on  which  his  fellow  citizens  diffi:red.  It 
is  certain  that  president  Washington  did  not  speak 
of  him  with  the  highest  respect. 

It  has  been  said  in  a  European  publication,  that 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams  made  the  motion  for  Indepen- 
dence, and  that  he  sacrificed  a  large  fortune  in  the 
cause  of  his  country.  This  is  not  true.  But  it  is 
true  that  he  contributed  to  the  Independence  of 
America,  as  much  as  any  man,  by  his  enterprising 


ADA  13 

spirit  at  an  early  period  of  the  contest,  by  his  pat;i- 
otic  zeal,  by  his  infltience  on  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
pie  ;  yet  no  individual  ought  to  be  styled  the  Father 
of  our  Independence.  For  a  nation  to  be  born  it 
required  all  the  mighty  efforts  of  those  bold,  wise  and 
noble-minded  statesmen,  who  adorned  this  era  in 
the  ifnnals  of  their  country  by  their  presence  in 
the  fu'st  Congress. 

From  being  secretary  of  the  commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  senate  of  the  state  after  the  government  was 
formed  in  the  year  1780,  and  was  placed  at  the  head 
of  that  respectable  branch  of  the  legislature.  He 
had  been  one  the  members  of  the  convention  which 
formed  the  government,  was  a  principal  leader  in 
the  debates,  and  eminently  useful,  from  his  knowl- 
edge and  experience,  in  the  committee  which  made 
the  first  draugiit ;  as  well  as  in  the  great  body  which 
shaped  it  in  its  present  form  ;  and  styled  it  the  Con- 
stitution of  Government  for  the  state  of  Massachu- 
setts, The  address  of  the  convention  to  the  people 
was  composed  by  him,  and  another  gentleman  who 
has  since  filled  several  oilices  of  honour  and  trust  m 
the  commonwealth. 

Whilst  Mr.  Adams  was  president  of  the  senate, 
he  w^as  punctual  in  his  attendance  upon  every  part 
of  duty,  and  adhered  strictly  to  all  the  regulations 
and  forms  of  proceeding  ;  till  finding  the  infirmities 
of  age  coming  upon  him,  he  was  persuaded  to  re- 
sign the  chair,  a  place  which  required  dispatch  as 
well  as  constant  assiduities  in  business.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  Phillips,  who  afterwards  suc- 
ceeded him  as  lieut.  governor  of  the  state. 

During  the  time  of  his  influence  in  the  senate, 
there  was  an  ins'urrection,  which  threatened  the 
overthrow  of  the  government.  Whoever  recollects 
the  popular  phrensy  will  give  due  credit  to  the  wise, 
spirited  and  energetic  measures  which  were  then 
urged,  and  carried  into  eftect.  The  most  direful 
consequences  were  prevented;  the  tumult  was  soon 


U  ADA 

quelled,  and  the  people  as  soon  convinced  of  their 
delusion.  In  this  dark  scene  of  adversity,  when 
even  a  civil  war  had  commenced,  no  man  was  more 
firm  and  intrepid  than  Mr.  Adams.  It  was  his  con- 
stant declaration,  that  repiiblicks  could  exist  only  by 
a  due  submission  to  the  laws  :  that  the  laws  ought 
to  be  put  in  force  against  all  opposition,  and  that  a 
government  could  be  supported  by  the  exertions  of 
a  free,  virtuous,  and  enlightened  people. 

The  year  after  the  insurrection  the  administration 
was  changed  ;  Mr.  Bowdoin  was  succeeded  by  gov. 
Hancock.  This  was  contrary  to  the  opinion  of  Mr. 
Adams.  No  man  could  have  conducted  himself  in 
this  office  better  than  the  former  gentleman,  yet 
many  people  in  the  commonwealth  indulged  the 
idea,  that  Mr.  H.  having  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
ple more  than  the  other,  might  serve  the  common- 
wealth more  effectually  at  this  time.  Gen.  Lincoln, 
the  officer  who  hud  quelled  the  insurrection,  was 
put  into  the  office  of  lieut.  governor.  Perhaps  this 
Blight  also  chagrin  the  good  old  patriot.  It  was 
evident  that  he  disliked  this  choice,  and  the  oppor- 
tunity was  improved  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation 
between  two  men  whose  friendship  had  been  broken, 
and  succeeded  by  personal  hatred,  but  who  were 
BOW  to  act  like  friends,  and  form  a  political  union  in 
which  the  sentiments  of  the  heart  might  have  little 
i*oncern.~-  Soon  after  the  insurrection,  the  conven- 
tion met  at  Philadelphia  to  form  a  new  constitution 
<>f  government  for  the  United  States.  When  the 
constitution  was  completed,  a  convention  was  as- 
sembled in  Massachusetts  to  consider  it ;  and  Mr. 
Adams  was  also  one  of  the  twelve  representatives  of 
Boston.  In  this  body  he  was  almost  a  silent  voter. 
5n  former  assemblies  he  had  spoken  upon  every 
i^uestion  that  became  an  object  of  discussion,  and 
as  he  grew  older  was  remarkable  for  his  garrulity  ; 
yet  here  he  seldom  opened  his  mouth.  He  had  said 
so  much  against  it  in  conversation  prior  to  the  meet- 
iBg  of  this  body,  tJiat   he   well  kncw^   if  he  prais- 


ADA  IS 

cd  it  he  would  be  charged  with  inconsistency,  which 
had  been  no  part  of  his  character  through  life  ;  and 
if  he  spake  against  it,  he  was  sensible  of  the  odium 
it  would  bring  upon  him  ;  for  his  constituents  were 
a  strong  phc;lanx  in  defence  of  it.  The  trade  of  the 
town  had  been  stagnant.  The  mechanicks  were  in 
want  of  business,  and  from  this  they  expected  gold- 
en dreams  of  prosperity. 

Our  politician  voted  for  the  adoption  of  the  con- 
stitution with  amendments.  He  himself  proposed 
one  amendment  which  was  not  adopted  ;  and  which 
he  soon  withdrew.  It  excited  a  strong  resentment 
at  the  time,  and  would  have  given  still  greater  of- 
fence, if  he  had  not  declared  that  it  was  far  from  his 
intention  to  excite  a  jealousy  that  the  people's  liber- 
ty was  to  be  infringed. — There  are  two  different 
opinions  on  this  part  of  his  conduct :  one  that  it  was 
his  design  to  prejudice  the  republican  party  against 
the  constitution  :  the  other  that  he  only  wished  to 
have  something  originating  from  himself,  and  there- 
fore proposed  an  amendment,  which  he  had  not  well 
considered,  or  not  at  all  digested.  From  this  time, 
however,  he  was  viewed  as  the  leader  of  that  party 
which  disliked  the  mixture  of  aristocracy  said  to  ex- 
ist in  that  form  of  government ;  and  looked  with 
pleasure  at  the  things  going  on  in  France.  It  is 
certain  that  all  those  who  were  styled  antifederal- 
ists  supported  his  character  ^nd  influence  ;  and  that 
those  who  disliked  the  administration  of  the  govern- 
ment under  Washington  and  Adams,  as  well  as 
those  who  first  disliked  the  constitution  itself,  united 
their  energies  to  exalt  his  reputation  in  his  old  age  ; 
to  blazon  his  name  among  the  first  worthies  of  Amer- 
ica, and  to  give  him  all  the  merit  that  could  possibly 
be  due  to  his  services. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  governor  of  the  state  of 
Massachusetts  in  1794,  having  been  second  in  au- 
thority and  honour  five  years.  He  continued  in  the 
chair  three  years,  and  then  resigned. 

The  last  six  years  of  his  life  he  passed  in  retire- 


16  A  D  A 

ment.  At  no  time  did  party  spirit  rage  with  more 
violence  ;  but  he  could  only  mingle  his  voice  with 
the  friends  who  visited  hun.  Some  mortifications 
every  one  must  meet  with*  In  public  life  great 
men  are  not  without  their  cares  :  in  the  evening  of 
their  days  when  they  seek  for  rest,  every  want  of 
attention  in  their  old  ac(],uaintance  is  a  thorn  in  their 
pillow.  Many  of  the  old  friends  of  gov.  Adams  wlio 
had  gone  hand  in  hand  with  him  during  the  revolu- 
tion now  forsook  him,  though  he  yet  received  the 
respect,  attentions  and  caresses  of  those,  w^ho  thought 
him  not  more  venera])le  for  age,  than  he  was  for  his 
attachment  to  republican  principles.  Re  was  the 
decided  friend  of  the  Jefersonian  administration. 
Several  letters  which  passed  between  him  and  pre- 
sident John  x\dams  discovered  his  opinion  of  the 
politicks  of  the  day,  and  his  general  ideas  of  govern- 
ment. He  died  in  a  good  old  age,  and  in  full  belief 
of  those  religious  principles  in  which  he  had  been 
educated,  and  which  he  was  free  to  defend  even 
against  Thomas  Paine  himself. 

The  letter  Paine  wrote  to  him  in  answer  to  one, 
which  was  certainly  well  meant,  discovered  that 
man  as  much  a  stranger  to  good  manners  as  to  pure 
sentiments,  and  moral  worth. 

His  character  may  be  summed  up  with  saying, 
that  he  was  a  respectable  politician,  though  too 
much  influenced  by  local  prejudices.  He  never  ap- 
peared to  so  much  advantage  in  Congress  as  in  Fan- 
ieul  Hall.  He  never  liked  the  habits  of  the  people 
in  the  southern  states.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
he  coalesced  with  their  politicks,  but  the  Puritans 
of  New  England  were  the  men  to  set  an  example  to 
the  world.  He  never  swerved  from  these  ideas 
which  imbued  his  mind  at  a  tender  age.  His  moral 
sentiments  were  ever  mingled  with  his  politicks,  and 
he  perhaps  thought  too  highly  of  the  forms  of  reli- 
gion. He  was  a  poor  man,  who  despised  riches,  and 
possessed  as  proud  a  spirit  as  those  who  roll  in  af- 
fluence or  command  armies.     He  had  three  topicks 


ADA  17 

of  conversation  upon  which  he  always  dwelt — Bri- 
tish thraldom — the  7nannerSy  laws  and  customs  of 
I7e%\)' England — the  benefit  of  publick  schools  to  the 
rising  generation.  By  publick  schools  he  meant 
such  as  there  are  in  every  town  in  Massachusetts, 
which  diffuse  knowledge  equally  among  all  classes 
of  people  ;  for  he  set  his  face  against  academies. — 
In  his  zeal  he  often  repeated  his  opinion,  and  per- 
haps in  his  conversation  exhibited  more  the  cha- 
racter of  a  true  New  England  man,  tlian  any  one  of 
his  contemporaries,  on  which  account  he  was  re- 
vered still  more  by  his  old  friends  who  cease  not  to 
mention  this,  when  they  describe  his  worth,  his  tal- 
ents, and  his  exertions  in  Ihe  cause  of  his  country. 

Adams  Zabdi el,  was  minister  of  the  church  in 
Lunenburgh  and^was  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1759. 

He  was  born  at  Quincy.  His  father  was  brother 
to  the  father  of  the  late  president  of  the  United 
States,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Anne  Boylstone,  was  sister  to  the  president's  mo* 
ther.  My.  Adams  was  respectable  for  his  abilities. 
His  sermons  were  sensible  and  plain,  and  he  deliv- 
ered them  with  animation.  He  also  discovered 
acutencss  in  managing  a  controversy  upon  a  ques- 
tion that  was  agitated  in  1774.  "  Whether  a  nega- 
tive  power  be  allowed  to  the  pastor  over  the  proceed- 
ings of  tht  people^  in  the  formation  of  our  churches,'^'* 
He  took  a  position  which  could  not  be  maintained 
by  the  platform,  or  any  just  sentiments  of  religious 
freedom,  though  many  pastors  of  churches  have 
adopted  it,  and  some  reduced  it  to  practice,  viz. 
That  the  pastor  has  a  negative^  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  churchy  in  the  same  manner  as  the  governor  of 
Massachusetts  negatived  acts  of  the  general  court.* 
He  was  provoked  to  write  this  pamphlet  from  an 
attack  made  upon  a  sermon  he  had  printed,  by  an 
anonymous  writer,  who  calls  himself  a  neighbour. 

*  The  governors  under  the  crown  had  a  complete  negative. 
D 


.J^^  .. 


18  A  D  A 

His  antagonist  answered  Mr.  Adams'  book  ;    aiitl 
gained  the  advantage,  though  he  was  by  no  means 
so  fair  a  disputant.  He  had  the  voice  of  the  people, 
and  common  sense  on  his  side  ;    yet  he  seemed  to 
prefer  the  glory  of  a  parti z an  to  that  of  defending 
the  truth.     He  asserts  that  a  minister  is  primus  in- 
ter pares  ;    or  the  moderator  of  a  meeting,   which 
very  term  explains  his  power.     And  he  was  fortu- 
nate enough  to  find  a  civil  magistrate  to  answer 
to  this  station.      The  governor  of  Connecticut  has 
no  power  of  negativing,  nor  had  the  governor  of 
Massachusetts  till  the  charter  of  William  and  Mary. 
The  old  charter  had  been  inhumanly  murdered  by 
one  of  the  Stuart  race,  altof  whom  were  enemies  to 
civil  and  religious  liberty.      If  ministers  or  ruling 
ciders,  says  this  anonymous  writer  Jiave  a  negative 
upon  the  brethren  they  must  be  a  distinct  branch, 
or  act  in  distinct  bodies  and  branches,  and  then  the 
minister  or  eldership  cannot  have  the  moderatorship, 
according  to  any  acting  bodies  whatever,  or  accord- 
ing to  the  reason  and  nature  of  things.       The  king 
is  not  president,  nor  moderator   of  the  house  of 
lords  ;    nor  the  governor  of  the  province  president 
of  the  council  in  legislative  proceedings,   where  he 
is  a  distinct  branch.  Several  ministers  in  the  coun- 
ty of  Worcester  adhered  to  the  principles  advanced 
in  Mr.  Adams'  book,  and  lost  their  parishes.* 
Upon  several  publick  occasions,  Mr.  Adams  was 

*  From  this  militant  state  of  the  churches  arose  contentions 
and  contests  at  our  courts  of  justice.  One  of  the  clergy  who  was 
ciismissed  without  calling  a  council,  prosecuted  for  his  salary. 
The  question  was  argued.  John  Adams  defended  the  minister 
in  the  supreme  court.  The  question  o/vrt^ative  power  was  not 
introduced.  The  people  had  gone  to  another  extreme  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  platform  :  more  so  than  the  pastor  they  accused  — 
They  meant  to  reduce  it  to  a  mere  piece  ot  parchment,  accerd- 
Jng  to  the  insurgent  spirit  that  was  then  raging.  Tlie  ravens  of 
discord  Mere  let  loose'against  all  form  and  order.  The  stale  of 
publick  affairs  prevented  a  final  decision.  Since  the  i evolution? 
the  question  has  been  revived  and  urged  in  a  more  popular  man- 
ner; and  several  ministers  lost  their  salaries  when  the  opinion  of 
the  court  was  unanimous  in  their  favour. 


A  LD  19 

elected  to  preach  discourses,  and  he  always  did 
himself  honour,  and  gratiiied  the  hearers.  He 
preached  thcDudlean  lecture,  1794,  upon  Presbyte- 
rian ordination  :  which  was  not  printed,  but  in  the 
opinion  of  the  president  of  the  University,  it  was 
one  of  the  very  best  that  had  been  delivered.  He 
died  March  1,  1801,  in  the  62d  year  of  his  age,  and 
37th  of  his  ministry. 

His  printed  discourses  are,  the  election  sermon, 
1785.  Several  at  the  ordination  of  young  men  to 
the  ministry,  in  some  of  which  subjects  of  contro- 
versy are  handled  with  independence  of  spirit,  acri- 
mony of  speech  and  generous  sentiments.  He  was 
always  highly  esteemed  by  the  more  liberal  part  of 
the  clergy. 

Addington  IsiAG.  an  eminent  magistrate  of 
Massachusetts.  He  was  one  of  those  worthies  who 
x)pposed  the  administration  of  sir  Edmund  Andross ; 
and  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  province,  by 
those  who  adhered  to  the  old  charter.  He  also  re- 
ceived the  same  appointment  from  the  crown  when 
the  charter  of  William  and  Mary  was  brought  over. 
He  was  chosen  for  many  years  one  of  the  council, 
and  w^as  very  active  as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
died  1714,  leaving  a  character  very  respectable  for 
integrity,  wisdom  and  industry. 

Judge  Dudley,  who  was  then  attorney  general^ 
and  who  married  one  of  his  daughters,  took  the 
seals  till  Mr.  Woodward  the  next  secretary  was  ap- 
pointed. 

AldenJohn,  one  of  the  worthies  who  first  came 
jover  to  Plymouth  in  the  year  1620.  He  was  then  a 
young  man.  He  settled  in  Duxbury,  on  a  farm 
which  is  now  the  best  in  the  town,  and  has  been  al- 
ways in  possession  of  one  of  his  descendants.  All 
of  the  name  are  descended  from  him.  And  many 
of  his  posterity  have  been  useful  and  distinguished 
members  of  society.  This  gentleman  lived  to  the 
age  of  88.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  as- 
sistants in  the  old  colony.     Tv/o  of  his  grand  chil^ 


20  ALL 

dren  were  living  in  1774.  Col.  Aklen  who  was 
killed  at  Cherry  valley,  was  his  great  grandson.  His- 
father  was  capt.  Samuel  Alden,  who  was  alive  when 
the  revolution  commenced. — He  saw  a  new  empire 
peopled  with  three  millions  where  his  grandfather 
saw  nothing  but  a  savage  wilderness.  Aldens  Cent. 
Sermon, 

Allen  Thomas,  minister  of  the  church  in 
Charlestown,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Norwich,  in 
1608  ;  was  graduated  at  Caius  College,  Cambridge 
University  ;  and  ordained  minister  of  St.  Edmunds, 
in  the  same  city.  In  1636,  when  the  clergy  were 
required  to  read  the  book  of  sports,  he  refused,  and 
lost  his  parish  by  order  from  bishop  Wren.  He 
sailed  from  England,  and  arrived  at  Boston  in  1638. 
He  was  invited  to  settle  at  Charlestown,  and  con- 
tinued their  pastor  till  the  year  1651.  He  then  re- 
turned to  England  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days  at  Norwich,  where  the  people  highly  respect- 
ed him.  Dr.  Mather  speaks  of  him  as  a  pious  and 
laborious  minister,  and  a  vciTm greatly  beloved;  which 
he  says  is  the  original  of  the  name  Allen,  or  Alwine^ 
as  it  is  in  the  Saxon. 

While  he  was  in  this  country  he  composed  a  book 
entitled  an  "  invitation  to  thirsty  sinners  to  come 
unto  their  saviour,"  which  was  printed  twice,  and^ 
prefaced  by  Mr.  Higginson.  He  also  composed 
another,  called  "  The  scripture  chronology"  which 
was  printed  in  England,  1659. 

Dr.  Calamy  mentions  two  other  publications — 
The  ''  way  of  the  Spirit  in  bringing  souls  to  Christ," 
and  a  number  of  sermons  upon  '*  the  necessity  of 
faith."  He  is  in  the  list  of  ejected  ministers,  1662, 
but  he  continued  to  preach  till  his  death,  Sept. 
1673,  etat.  (65.  Magnaliay  page  215,  Calamy''s 
Account  of  ejected  7nimsters,  voL  IL 

Allen  John,  first  minister  of  the  gospel  in  Ded- 
ham,  Massachusetts,  A.  D.  1737. 

He  is  styled  a  courteous  man  by  the  author  of 
Wonder  vjorking  providences y  who  says  likewise  that 


ALL  21 

lie  was  full  of  christian  love,  while  he  made  such  a 
bold  stand  against  the  errors  of  the  times.  He  di- 
ed 1671,  etat.  75,  having  been  at  Dedham  24  years. 

Dr.  Mather  calls  him  a  dUigent  student  and  good 
scholar.  It  is  evident  that  he  had  good  abilities  for 
a  polemical  divine  from  his  Defence  of  the  nine  pro- 
position  viihich  were  so  many  points  of  church  disci- 
pline. In  this  work  he  wa3  assisted  by  Mr,  Shep- 
herd of  Cambridge.^ 

In  the  synod  of  1662,  Mr.  Allen  made  a  very- 
conspicuous  figure,  and  he  wrote  in  defence  of  it 
against  the  celebrated  president  Chauncy.  Besides 
these  controversial  pieces  he  printed  a  few  discour- 
ses which  are  not  now  to  be  met  with.  His  friends 
also,  published  the  two  last  discourses  he  ever 
preached,  one  from  Canticles,  viii.  5,  and  the  oth- 
er from  John,  xiv.  22.  From  their  account  we  must 
think  his  epitaph  just. 

JOHANNES  ALLEN, 
Vir  sincerus,  amans  pacis  ;  patiensq  ;  laboris 
Pcrspicuus,  simplex,  doctrinx  piirus  amator. 

Allen  James,  one  of  the  silenced  ministers  who 
left  England  after  the  act  of  Uniformity,  1662.  He 
came  to  Boston,  and  was  invited  to  preach  at  the 
first  church,  as  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Davenport.  Hav- 
ing continued  with  them  six  years  he  was  ordained 
their  teacher,  Dec.  9,  1668.  He  lived  in  the  style 
of  a  gentleman,  built  a  stone  house  which  is  now  oc- 
cupied  by  his  great  grandson,  the  sheriff  of  Suffolk, 
and  which  is  probably  the  oldest  house  in  the  town. 
It  is  said  *'  that  he  had  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Bos- 
ton." He  had  certainly  a  very  handsome  estate,  and 
was  kind  and  hospitable.  He  was  very  strongly 
attached  to  the  order  of  the  churches,  as  defended  by 

*  In  the  history  of  Cambridge  (Hist.  Coll.  7th  vol.)  we  find 
among  the  works  of  Mr.  Shepherd,  a  discourse  to  clear  up,  the 
old  way  of  Christy  in  the  churches  of  New-England.  Mr.  Cotton 
speaks  with  respect  of  these  divines.  Shepliardus  cum  AUinio 
fratre  (fratrum  dulce  par)  ut4  eximia  pietate,  et  conditione  nor^ 
5nediocri,  atque  etiam  mysteriorum  pietatis  predicatione.  8ccv 
Jhreface  to  Aorton's  sermon^ 


22  ALL 

Dr.  Increase  Mather,  his  particular  friend,  and  op, 
posed  those  attempts  to  introduce  innovations  which 
were  made  in  more  than  one  instance  during  his 
ministry.  He  died  Sept.  22,  1710,  in  the  78th  year 
of  his  age.* 

His  posterity  have  been  respectable  in  Massachu- 
setts. His  eldest  son  James  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation, and  Jeremiah  his  second  son,  was  treasurer 
of  the  province.  They  both  filled  several  offices, 
with  ability  and  reputation.  Calamy''s  Account  of 
ejected  ministers,     Prroate  information, 

Allen  James,  the  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Allen,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  house  of  re- 
presentatives for  Boston,  1739.  At  this  time  a 
pointed  opposition  was  made  to  the  administration 
of  gov.  Belcher,  and  the  town  of  Boston  took  the 
lead  in  it  so  as  to  change  their  representation. f 

Mr.  Allen  continued  in  oppQsition  to  the  govern- 
ment while  Shirley  was  in  the  chair,  and  was  once 
expelled  the  house  for  his  freedom  of  speech.  The 
town  immediately  rechose  him.  The  house  refused 
him  his  seat.  The  altercation  lasted  till  the  May 
succeeding,  when  another  house  of  representatives 
was  appointed,  among  whomi  Mr.  Allen's  name  is 
enrolled,  and  to  w^hich  no  objection  could  be  made. 
He  continued  a  rnember  of  the  general  court  till  he 
died,  1755.     Independent  Advertiser,  1749. 

Allen  John,  one  of  the  early  graduates  of  Har- 
vard College,  having  received  the  honours  of  that 

•  The  printed  works  of  Mr.  Allen  are,  «  Man's  reflection,  a 
means  to  further  his  recovery  of  his  aposlacy  from  God."  12mo. 

2d The  substance  of  a  number  of  sermons  upon  the  health  of 

the  soul.     Small  quarto.     The  election  sermon,  1679. 

t  The  representatives  from  Boston,  1738,  were  Elisha  Cooke, 
esq.  Oxenbridge  Tbacher,  esq.  Timothy  Prout  and  Thomas 
Cushing,  jun.  In  1739,  Mr.  Thacher  and  Mr.  Prout  were  left 
out,  because  they  were  llelchePs  friends  and  adhered  to  his 
measures — Mr.  Allen  and  Mr.  Kilby,  who  were  bis  most  violent 
opposers,  men  of  zeal  in  whatever  they  undertook,  were  elected 
in  their  places.  Mr.  Bromfield  who  was  likewise  on  the  popular 
side  was  a  third  ii)  the  ncv.'  choice— -Mr.  Cooke  had  died  previous 
to  the  election. 


ALL  S3 

infant  seminary  in  1643.  He  was  settled  in  the 
ministry  at  Great  Yarmouth,  in  Old  England,  as  a 
colleague  with  Mr.  John  Brinsley  ;  and  was  silenc- 
ed by  the  act  of  Uniformity,  1662.  He  afterwards 
took  a  house  at  Goulstone  and  often  preached.  He 
preferred  this  place  because  it  was  out  of  the  juris- 
diction of  the  bishop  of  Norwich,  who  was  an  ene- 
my to  Independents.  He  died,  A.  D.  1675,  after 
passing  the  50th  year  of  his  age.  Calamy^s  cotitin- 
nation,  page  67. 

Allen  Jamesj  first  minister  of  the  church  in 
Brookline  was  a  native  of  Roxbury.    He  was  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College,  1710;  was  ordained  1718, 
and  died  1747,  in  the  56th  year  of  his  age,  and  29th 
of  his  ministry.   "  He  was  a  pious  and  judicious  di- 
vine." He  was  one  of  the  ministers  who  encouraged 
the  revival  of  religion  in  1743,  but  afterwards,  like 
many  other  zealous  brethren,  expressed  his  disap- 
pointment concerning  its  general  effect  upon  the 
churches,  and  on  the  morals  of  individuals.  He  lived 
and  died  as  a  christian,  and  his  publications  do  equal 
honour  to  his  hetid  and  heart.*  Piercers  Cent,  sermon, 
Allen  Ethan,  was  a  man  born  for  troublesome 
times.      In  a  tranquil  state  of  society^  and  in  rural 
walks  he  might  only  have  been  distinguished  for 
his  great  bodily  strength,  or  rude,  boisterous  beha- 
viour.    But  opportunities  were  not  wanting  to  dis- 
play the  peculiar  genius  of  the  man  and  his  local 
situation  made  him  a  warrior  before  he  was  called  to 
fight  the  battles  of  his  country.     The  lands  granted 
by  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  to  certain  set- 
tlers, were  claimed  by  the  state  of  New  York.      If 
the  people  who  held  the  lands  had  made  this  ac- 
knowledgment,   they  must  have  purchased  what 

•  He  printed  seven  sermons.  —  1.  Thanksgiving  sermon,  NoVi 
1722. — 2.  Upon  the  government  of  the  world  by  a  wise  provi- 
dence, 1727.— 3.  The  doctrine  of  merit  exploded,  1727..^ 
4.  Upon  the  great  earthquake,  1727. — 5.  A  sermon  to  young 
men,  1731. — f;  A  funeral  sermon  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Aspin- 
\vail,  1733. — 7.  The  election  sermon,  1744. 


24  ALL 

they  considered  as  their  own.  They  disputed  the 
title,  and  defended  themselves  by  arms.  Allen  was 
their  leader,  and  he  was  declared  an  outlaw.  As 
soon  as  hostilities  commenced  between  Great  Bri- 
tain and  her  colonies,  these  hardy  soldiers  of  the  wil- 
xlerness,  engaged  fiercely  in  the  cause  of  America, 
and  marched  directly  to  Ticonderoga  and  Grown 
Point,  which  places  were  garrisoned  by  British 
troops.  These  garrisons  were  surprised  and  taken 
May  10th,  the  former  by  Allen,  and  the  other  by 
col.  Seth  Warner,  one  of  the  boldest  of  these  moun- 
taneers,  who  from  this  time  took  the  name  of  the 
Green  mountain  boys. 

After  this,  coU  Allen  passed  the  lake  with  the 
troops  that  gen.  Montgomery  commanded,  and  was 
sent  to  the  Canadians  to  give  them  information  and 
gain  their  influence,  in  which  he  met  with  some 
success.  This  was  during  the  summer  months. 
He  went  a  second  time  in  November.  But  attempt- 
ing to  take  Montreal,  he  with  his  whole  party  of 
Canadians,  were  taken  prisoners.  He  says,  that 
Brown  first  proposed  this,  but  did  not  assist  him  ac- 
cording to  his  promise.  It  was  thought  an  impru- 
dent action,  and  col.  Allen,  whose  fame  had  been 
trumpeted  through  the  provinces,  was  now  called  a 
''  high  flying  genius"  fearless  as  a  man,  but  without 
prudence  for  a  superior  officer.  His  courage  did 
not  forsake  him  when  he  was  taken,  but  he  acted 
and  spake  like  one  conscious  of  doing  well,  and  de- 
serving applause.  He  was  put  in  irons  and  sent 
over  the  Atlantick,  was  in  prison  in  England,  and 
aboard  a  vessel,  in  Halifax  and  New  York,  and  in 
1771  exchanged  for  col.  Archibald  Campbell,  who 
had  been  taken  with  a  battalion  of  Highlanders  in 
Boston  bay  in  the  summer  of  1776.  He  published 
a  book  the  next  year,  which  is  styled  *'  his  narra- 
tive" which  makes  him  a  hero  in  suffering  as  well 
as  action. 

We  hear  but  little  of  him  during  the  last  year  of 
the  war,  the  historian  not  finding  so  many  instanceis 


ALL  25 

of  his  prowess  as  are  related  in  the  narrative. — He 
might  perhaps  expect  a  separate  command,  which 
some  officers  had  who  were  inferior  to  him  in  the 
date  of  their  commisions,  or  had  not  been  so  early 
in  the  field.  He  appeared  after  his  exchange  to  have 
been  more  of  a  politician  than  a  warrior  ;  and  en- 
tered fully  into  all  tlie  debates  about  making  the 
green  mountains  a  separate  state  ;  and  amused  his 
mind  at  the  same  time  with  theological  enquiries. 
With  these,  the  publick  were  favoured.  He  print- 
ed a  book  called  the  Oracles  of  Reason  in  which  he 
thought  he  had  said  enough  to  discard  all  revela- 
tion. But  he  was  not  fortunate  enough  to  convince 
others  that  religion  was  a  fable  ;  or  that  he  was  able 
to  manage  a  controversy  in  which  men  of  much 
greater  ingenuity  had  failed.  The  book  was  equal- 
ly bad  in  argument  and  style  ;  it  was  wretchedly 
printed,  very  little  read,  and  is  now  wholly  forgot- 
ten. 

Allen  Ebenezer,  also  a  green  mountain  boy, 
was  one  of  the  first  soldiers  of  the  revolution.  He 
was  in  the  party  that  went  against  Ticonderoga* 
With  forty  men  he  went  upon  the  hill  Defiance, 
and  carried  the  fortress  without  loss  of  a  man.  He 
also  distinguished  himself  in  the  battle  of  Benning- 
ton ;  taking  advantage  of  a  breastwork  oi  rocks,  he 
contended  with  the  front  of  the  enemy,  till  he  caus- 
ed a  temporary  retreat  He  was  among  those  who 
exerted  themselves  in  making  Vermont  a  separate 
state,  and  lived  to  see  not  only  the  wilderness  sub- 
dued, where  he  first  ploughed  the  ground,  but  the 
places  filled  with  inhabitants.  — The  account  of  his 
death  is  mentioned  in  the  newspapers  of  the  year 

All  ER  TON  John,  one  of  the  number  who  arriv- 
ed at  Plymouth,  1620-— he  died  the  first  winter. 

Allkrton  Isaac,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  who 
was  employed  as  their  agent  in  Kn  gland  upon  sev- 
eral occasions.  In  1620  he  went  over  to  treat  with 
the  adventurers  and  to   obtain  moncv  and  articles 


26  A  M  E 

which  were  wanted  in  the  plantation.  The  next 
year  he  went  again  upon  a  similar  errand,  and  Nov. 
6,  finished  ''  the  bargain  with  the  company  at  Lon- 
don, delivered  his  bonds  and  received  their  deeds." 
In  1628  he  returned  to  New  England,  and  was  sent 
in  the  fall  as  the  agent  of  those  planters,  that  he 
might  get  their  Kennebeck  patent  enlarged,  and 
give  some  assistance  to  their  friends  at  Ley  den.  He 
returned  the  next  year  without  accomplishing  their 
object,  the  enlargement  and  confirmation  of  the 
Plymouth  patent.  Morton  was  his  clerk  in  this  bu- 
siness, who  came  over  with  him,  and  proved  a 
scourge  to  the  plantation,  and  also  Mr.  Rodgers  an 
independent  minister,  who  proved  insane,  and  whom 
he  carried  back  the  year  after  according  to  the  wish- 
es of  his  brethren.  They  also  commissioned  him  to 
finish  the  business  of  the  patent.  He  returned  to 
New  England  in  the  spring  of  1630,  and  brought 
over  Ashley  and  others  who  had  taken  a  patent  for 
Penobscot  to  trade  with  the  natives  in  those  eastern 
parts. 

We  find  no  further  account  of  his  being  employ- 
ed upon  publick  business.  It  is  most  likely  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  v/ith  the  people  at 
Plymouth,  but  the  year  of  his  death  is  not  recorded. 

Ames  Dr.  Nathaniel,  of  Dedham,  Massachu- 
setts, was  eminent  as  a  physician  and  mathemati- 
cian. He  published  an  almanack  forty  years  suc- 
cessively, which  was  so  highly  reputed,  that  no 
other  almanacks  were  saleable  in  this  and  the  neigh- 
bouring states.  When  he  died,  in  the  year  1765, 
he  had  made  the  calculations  for  the  ensuing  year. 
The  almanack  was  published  as  his,  and  so  attach- 
ed were  all  classes  of  people  to  the  name,  that  the 
demand  was  great  for  all  that  were  printed.  This 
worthy  man  descended  in  a  direct  line  from  the 
Rev.  William  Ames,  son  of  the  famous  Franequer 
professor,  who  wrote  the  Medulla  Theologice,'^ 

*  ^^r,  William  Ames  was  likewise  ejected  from  Wrentham, 
ant]  the  next  parish,  Froslendon  :  Having  been  in  the  year  1648 


A  M  E  27 

Ames  Fisher.  Esq.  the  son  of  the  astronomer, 
one  of  the  most  brilliant  men  this  country  ever  pro- 
duced, was  born  at  Dedham,  and  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1774,  when  he  was  only  16  years  of 
age.  His  compositions  at  this  early  period  were 
excellent  and  original.  They  discovered  not  only 
a  rich  and  glowing  fancy,  but  correct  taste  and 
judgment  beyond  what  could  be  expected  from  a 
youth.  During  the  revolutionary  war  he  was  en- 
gaged in  no  particular  business,  but  dwelt  in  the 
family  mansion  at  Dedham,  where  he  must  have 
adorned  and  enriched  his  mind  with  those  stores  of 
knowledge  which  enabled  him  to  give  such  delight 
to  his  friends,  and  render  such  eminent  services  to 
the  community. 

He  was  afterwards  a  student  at  lav/,  and  from  ex- 
ercising his  profession  a  few  years,  he  was  introduc- 
ed into  a  more  extensive  field  of  usefulness.  In 
1788  the  convention  met  in  Boston  for  the  purpose 
of  deliberating  on  the  constitution  recommended  by 
the  grand  federal  convention.  He  was  sent  as  a 
member  to  this  body,  from  his  native  town,  and 
made  a  distinguished  figure  among  the  most  elo- 
quent speakers.      A  passage  from  one  speech  he 

settled  as  co-pastor  with  his  uncle  Phillips,  to  the  church  of  Christ 
in  Wrentham  ;  and  likewise  preaching  one  part  of  the  Lord's  day 
at  Pros  tendon  for  many  years.  And  at  that  time,  I  suppose  Mr. 
Thomas  King,  after  Mr.  Phillips*  great  decay,  supphed  at 
Wrentham.  Mr.  Ames  died  in  the  year  1689,  in  the  66th  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  the  son  of  the  famous  Dr.  William  Ames, 
(who  after  having  been  twelve  years  pastor  at  Franequer,  was  dis- 
missed from  thence,  in  order  to  his  being  professor  at  Rotter- 
dam, and  died  not  in  1639,  as  has  been  represented  by  some,  but 
in  1633  :)  and  when  a  child  went  over  with  his  mother  Co  New 
England,  where  he  had  his  education  at  Harvard  College,  and 
became  a  graduate  in  1645,  and  returned  to  Old  England  and 
came  to  Wrentham  in  1646.  He  was  a  very  holy  man,  of  the 
Congregational  persuasion,  and  in  all  respects  an  excellent  per- 
son. He  hath  a  sermon  in  print  entitled  the  "  saints  security 
against  seducing  spirits  ;  or,  the  anointing  from  the  Holy  One  the 
best  teaching  ;'*  on  1.  John,  ii.  20  ;  preached  at  Paurs,before  the 
lord  mayor,  aldermen,  &c.  Nov.  5,  1651.  Calamy's  Continuation^ 
^cvoL  ILfi/i.797,  7 9S, 


28  A  M  E 

made  early  in  the  session,  was  quoted  with  high  ap- 
probation by  a  southern  orator  in  their  convention, 
as  being  the  most  forcible  and  animating  description 
of  the  spirit  of  democracy.  The  eyes  of  the  people 
were  turned  to  him  when  they  elected  members  of 
Congress  ;  and  he  represented  the  Suffolk  District 
eight  years.  Amidst  that  constellation  of  worthies 
he  shone  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude.  The  latter 
part  of  the  time,  his  health  was  peculiarly  delicate, 
and  his  feeble  frame  would  often  sink  under  the 
bold  efforts  made  by  a  mind  of  sir^oerior  native  vi- 
gour and  wonderfully  active.  But  although  he  was 
able  to  pay  less  attention  to  publick  concerns  than 
he  Was  prompted  by  the  ardent  desire  of  his  soul, 
he  delivered  some  of  the  best  speeches  ever  heard 
in  an  American  assembly  From  this  publick 
sphere  he  went  to  the  shades  of  retirement,  where 
he  could  enjoy  his  book,  and  his  friends  ;  attend  to 
rural  affairs  or,  as  his  health  permitted,  to  the  busi- 
ness of  his  profession. 

He  was  chosen  into  the  council  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  gov.  humner,  and  when  the  legislature 
met  after  the  death  of  Washington,  he  was  elected 
by  them  to  pronounce  the  publick  eulogy.  The 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  he  received  from  New 
Jersey,  and  he  was  unanimously  chosen  president  of 
Harvard  College,  which  honour  he  declined  in  a 
polite  letter  to  the  corporation.  His  last  days  on 
earth  were  painful  from  his  bodily  complaints,  but 
the  vigour  of  his  mind  never  failed  ;  many  admira- 
ble productions  of  a  political  nature  came  from  his 
pen,  equally  instructive  and  entertaining,  full  of  vir- 
tuous sentiments  and  true  patiiotick  zeal.  During 
every  period  of  his  life,  his  splendid  abilities  were 
guarded  by  his  integrity  and  religion,  and  '*  adorn- 
ed with  the  choicest  flowers  of  eloquence  :*"  and 
even  when  the  last  breath  lingered  on  his  trembling 
lips  the  recollection  of  his  past  life  armed  him  with 
resignation  ;  and  the  pure  principles  of  his  religious 
belief  turned  the  shadows  oj  death  into  the  light  of 
the  morning. 


A  P  P  ^29 

His  funeral  was  attended  in  Boston  by  all  classes 
of  people,  and  an  eulogy  was  pronounced  by  the 
hon.  Mr.  Dexter.  His  body  was  then  conveyed  to 
Dedham  to  be  deposited  in  the  family  tomb.  The 
publick  earnestly  desired  that  a  subscription  might 
be  brought  forward  for  his  works,  which  are  to  be 
collected  in  a  volume  ;  and  with  them  will  be  given 
a  more  complete  biography  than  has  yet  appeared. 

Appleton  Nathaniel,  D.  D.  minister  of  the 
church  in  Cambridge  was  the  son  of  the  hon.  John 
Appleton,  esq.  of  Ipswich.  He  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College,  1712;  ordained,  1717;  and  died 
Feb.  9,  1784.  His  munner  of  preaching  was  plain, 
practical  and  impressive.  It  is  said,  that  in  the 
younger  part  of  life  he  excelled  as  a  publ'ck  speak- 
er. Many  of  the  present  generation  remember  him 
as  a  man  venerable  for  his  piety,  his  prudence  and 
his  age.  "  New  England  can  furnish  few  instances 
of  more  useful  talents,  and  of  more  exemplary  pie- 
ty,  united  with  a  ministry  cquallv  long  and  success- 
ful." 

There  was  a  cheerfulness  mingled  with  the  grav- 
ity of  his  deportment ;  such  a  disposition  to  make 
every  one  happy  around  him,  as  rendered  his  soci- 
ety acceptable  to  the  rising  generation  ;  and  he  re- 
ceived peculiar  tokens  of  respect  from  the  inge- 
nuous youth  of  the  university.  He  often  preached 
when  ministers  were  ordained  ;  and  his  discourses 
were  calculated  to  promote  harmony,  love  and  peace. 
There  were  times  when  he  was  obliged  to  exert  all 
his  fortitude,  prudence  and  candour  to  conduct  so, 
as  not  to  give  offence. 

While  KJr  Whitefield  was  in  the  zenith  of  his 
popularity,  the  president,  and  other  instructors  of 
the  college  bore  their  testimony  against  him  on  ac- 
count of  the  uncharitable  and  slanderous  reports  he 
made  of  the  state  of  that  seminary.  He  addressed  a 
letter  in  reply,  which  was  answered  by  the  professor 
of  divinity.  Many  pastors  of  the  churches  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut,  also  testified  against  the 


i'j 


50  A  P  P 

errors  and  disorders  ^vhich  then  prevailed.  Dr.  Ap- 
plcton  w'd'o  censured  for  his  moderation,  which  was 
then  a  very  uniashionablc  virtue,  and  he  was  re- 
quested by  many  zealous  members  of  his  own 
church,  and  by  some  of  Lis  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
to  admit  that  wonderful  preacher  into  his  pulpit. 
He  continued  stcridfitst,  however,  in  supporting  the 
interest  and  honour  of  the  college.  Mr.  Whitefield 
was  sensible  of  his  error,  when  riper  years  had  tem- 
pered the  fervour  of  his  youthful  spirit,  and  with 
christian  candour  he  publickly  acknowledged  his 
fault.  When  Harvard  Hall  w^as  burnt  in  1764,  he 
solicited  benefactions  in  England  and  Scotland,  and 
his  kindness  met  with  a  grateful  return.  Every  at- 
tention was  paid  him  by  the  president  and  fellows 
of  the  university,  on  his  last  visit  to  America,  and 
Dr.  Appleton  invited  him  to  preach  in  his  church. 
The  scene  was  interesting :  Mr.  Whiteiield  v/as 
uncommonly  aftectionate  in  speaking  of  the  aged  di- 
vine in  his  prayer,  and  in  his  address  to  the  people 
of  his  charge.  His  text  was  1.  Cor.  iii.  11.  Several 
ministers  w^ho  had  always  attended  Mr.  Whitefield's 
preaching  observed,  that  he  never  displayed  more 
eloquence,  or  delivered  a  more  correct  discourse. 

Dr.  Appleton's  prudence  w^as  exercised  in  a  tri- 
al of  a  different  nature  some  years  preceding  the  re- 
volutionary war.  He  was  as  true  a  Whig  in  his 
political,  as  he  w^^s  a  Calvinist  in  his  religious  prin- 
ciples. But  several  of  his  hearers  were  on  the  oth- 
er side  of  the  question,  and  had  rendered  them- 
selves very  unpopular  in  their  publick  stations. 
They  had  been  among  his  paiticular  friends,  and 
while  they  blamed  him  for  his  opposition  to  the  go- 
vernment, others  who  were  with  him  in  his  poli- 
ticks made  severe  remarks  upon  his  complaisance 
to  Tories.  None,  however,  could  ever  accuse  him 
of  "  speaking  unadvisedly  with  his  lips." 

Dr.  Appleton  was  fellow  of  the  corporation  of 
Harvard  College  from  the  year  1719  to  1779.     He 


AND  31 

then  resigned  on  account  of  his  age.  He  sat  at  the 
board  with  five  presidents.  He  delivered  funeral 
discourses  upon  three,  Leverett,  Wadsworth  and 
Holyoke.  Another  discourse  he  also  printed  when 
Mr.  Flint  died,  who  had  been  more  than  60  years  a 
fellow  and  tutor  of  the  college.* 

Andross  Edmund  sir,  governor  of  New-York, 
New- England  and  Virginia,  came  to  New- York, 
anno,  1674,  widi  a  connmission  as  governor,  hav- 
ing only  the  title  of  major  Andross,  being  sent 
by  the  duke  of  York,  after  he  had  obtained  a 
grant  of  the  land  from  the  king  of  England.  His 
administration  began  with  lenient  measures,  the 
effect  rather  of  his  policy  than  clemency,  or  he 
soon  discovered  a  temper,  cruel  to  individuals 
and  unfriendly  to  the  state.  One  instance  of  this 
was,  his  quarrelling  with  Carteret  who  then  exer- 
cised jurisdiction  over  New  Jersey.  By  an  exer- 
tion of  powder  he  tfirew  him  into  prison  for  which 
it  is  said  he  was  deprived  of  the  government ;  but 
did  not  lose  the  favor  of  the  duke,  to  whom  he  was 
a  compleat  sycophant,  making  himself  subservient 
to  all  his  arbitrary  designs  and  superstitious  de- 
vices. 

He  was  appointed  governor  of  New  England  in 
1686,  and  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  29th  day  of  De- 
cember. The  first  commission  which  was  granted 
by  James  after  he  came  to  the  throne  was  to  Dudley^ 
as  president  of  a  council  of  twxnty  eight ;  of  this 
council  Randolph  v/as  secretary.  But  this  was  of  a 

*  Dr.  Holmes  has  given  a  list  of  Dr.  Appleton's  ])ublications. 
The  wisdom  of  God  in  the  redemplion  of  man,  17  23,  12mo: 
Discourses  on  Romans  viii.  14,  12mo,  1743.  Eight  funeral  ser- 
mons. Six  ordination  sermons.  Two  fast  sermons.  Two 
thanksgiving  sermons.  A  sermon  at  the  artillery  election, 
1735  ;  general  election,  1742  ;  convention  of  ministers,  1743  ; 
on  the  difference  between  legal  and  evangelical  righteousness, 
1749;  at  the  Boston  lecture,  1763;  against  prophane  swear- 
ing, 1765.  He  also  preached  the  Dudleian  lecture  sermon, 
1753;  upon  the  validity  of  Presbyterian  ordination. 


Sa  AND 

short  duration  ;  and  more  extensive  powers  wcrc> 
given  to  Sir  I.dmund,  as  he  was  then  styled  and  eve- 
ry vestige  of  the  old  charter  was  obliterated.  His 
prejudices  were  strong  against  the  people  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  the  puritanism  of  New  England,  these 
prejudices  he  discovered  when  governor  of  New 
-York  and  they  were  coiiiimed  by  Randolph,  who  is 
handed  down  to  us  as  one  of  the  most  despicable 
wretches  that  ever  held  an  office  in  our  government* 
In  the  year  1688,  this  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
and  of  all  New  Kngland,  received  another  commis- 
sion, by  which  New  York  was  added  to  his  juris- 
diction. This  was  said  to  be  done  in  order  to  unite 
the  colonies  and  make  them  more  formidable  to  the 
French  ;  but  the  true  reason  of  it  was  to  abridge 
their  liberties  and  to  annihilate  every  idea  of  their 
own  importance,  and  in  a  particular  manner  to  de- 
prive them  of  those  privileges  which  were  founded 
upon  former  claims,  the  freedom  of  the  press  was 
restrained,  and  no  book  could  be  printed  without 
the  license*  of  Mr.  secretary  Randolph.  This  was 
an  early  instance  of  his  ill  will  to  the  people  and  was 
followed  by  a  restraint  upon  marriages.  He  exact- 
ed bonds  from  all  who  entered  into  the  matrimoni- 
al state,  to  be  forfeited  if  there  should  be  afterwards 
found  any  lawful  impediment.  The  congregation- 
al teachers  were  considered  as  laymen,  and  the  fa- 
thers of  ^'ew  Kngland  considered  marriage  as  a 
mere  civil  contract ;  the  magistrates  also  might  le- 
gally perform  the  ceremonies.  This  was  not  con- 
sonant to  the  ideas  of  the  church  of  England  or  of 
Rome,  an  address  was  therefore  sent  to  the  bishop 
of  London,  begging  that  no  marriage  should  be 
deemed  lawful  unless  the  ceremony  was  performed 


*  Tt  has  been  observed,  that  a  complaint  of  this  kind  was  rather 
inconsistent,  as  it  implied  that  the  press  was  perfectly  free  before. 
This  was  not  the  case,  it  had  been  under  restraint  durinej  former 
administrations  ,  the  only  change  was  in  the  licenser — Randolph 
prevented  every  publication  which  did  not  juit  his  own  iiumotiv 
and  prejudice. 


AND  33 

by  a  minister  of  the  church  of  England  *  The 
Conj^regational  societies  were  to  be  taxed  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  Episcopal  clergy.  The  people 
were  threatened  with  having;  their  meeting-houses 
taken  from  them,  or  that  their  mode  of  worship 
should  not  be  tolerated.  This  we  have  from  Hutch- 
inson, who  was  indeed  attached  to  the  forms  of  the 
New  England  churches,  though,  like  Dudley,  he 
often  sacrificed  his  religious  prejudices  at  the  shrine 
of  worldly  honour. 

The  people  swelled  with  rage  at  having  their  civil 
and  religious  liberties  trampled  upon  by  an  arbitra- 
ry governor.  The  loss  of  their  freeholds  was  now 
added  to  their  distresses  ;  and  they  might  well  con- 
sider whether  their  lives  were  to  be  long  secure. 
They  were  i;oused  to  exertion,  and  sent  Dr.  Increase 
Mather. who  was  then  president  of  Harvard  College, 
as  their  agent  to  England.  He  was  ordered  to  re-. 
present  things  as  they  actually  were,  and  to  make 
this  rational  request — that  the  right  "which  they  had 
to  their  freeholds  might  be  confirmed  ;  and  that  no 
laws  be  made^  or  mojiies  revised,  njoithout  an  assembly* 

While  their  civil  aifairs  were  thus  conducted,  sir 
Edmund  was  called  upon  to  display  his  military 
talents.  To  stop  the  incursions  of  the  Indians,  who 
had  burnt  several  of  the  eastern  settlements,  he 
marched  a  thousand  men  into  their  country  in  the 
depth  of  winter  ;  by  which  he  shewed  more  prow- 
ess than  judgment.  The  governor  was  much  blam- 
ed ;  for  he  might  have  been  informed  by  the  hunt- 
ers, that  the  aboriginals  always  retired  into  ihe  woods 

•  In  one  of  Randolph's  letters  he  writes,  "  I  press  for  able  and 
<'  sober  ministers,  and  we  will  contribute  largely  to  their  mainte- 
"  nance  ;  but  one  thing  will  mainly  help,  when  no  marriages  shall 
"  hereafter  be  allowed  lawful  but  such  as  are  made  by  the  minis- 
"  ters  of  the  church  of  England/' 

In  another  letter  to  gov.  Hinckley,  quoted  by  Hutchinson,  he 
says,  "  perhaps  it  will  be  as  reasonable  to  move,  that  your  colony 
"  should  be  rated  to  pay  our  minister  of  the  church  of  England, 
"  who  now  preaches  in  Boston,  and  you  hear  him  not,  as  to 
"  make  the  Quakers  pay  in  your  colony. 

F 


34  AND 

to  spend  the  winter,  where  the  most  alert  scouting 
parties  would  hardly  find  them.  He  returned  to 
Boston  with  a  part  of  his  army,  having  put  the  re- 
mainder into  winter  quarters  in  two  forts  which  he 
built,  via.  one  at  Sheepscot  and  the  other  at  Pejep- 
scot  falls.  These  were  the  only  fruits  of  his  cam- 
paign. 

'I'hc  revolution  which  placed  William  and  Mary' 
upon  the  throne  proved  most  fortunate  for  New  En- 
gland The  friends  ot  this  court  were  the  friends  of 
the  colony  ;  and  were  also  disposed  to  reverse  the 
proceedings  under  the  late  king,  especially  where 
an  attack  had  been  made  upon  the  freedom  of  the 
subject.  As  soon  as  it  was  rumoured,  that  the 
prince  of  Orange  had  prevailed  in  England,  the  in- 
habitants of  Boston  assembled;  soundiugthe  trum- 
pet from  the  north,  every  part  of  the  town  was  in 
commotion.  To  prevent  any  extravagance  among 
the  insurgents,  the  old  magistrates  put  themselves 
at  their  head, and  endeavoured  to  keep  thing^^  calm 
and  regular  till  advices  could  be  received  from  the 
old  country.  Sir  1  .dmund  retired  with  his  friends^ 
and  several  members  of  the  council,  to  the  fort  in 
Boston.  A  summons  was  sent  to  him  upon  the 
18th  of  April,  1689,  signed  by  the  former  governor 
Bradstreet,  Mr.  Stoughton,  and  others,  to  whom  he 
surrendered.  The  violence  of  the  people,  who  had 
come  in  from  the  country,  could  scarcely  be  restrain- 
ed, i  hey  insisted  upon  his  bemg  chained  as  a 
traitor.  It  became  necessary,  in  order  to  gratify 
this  vindictive  spirit,and  in  fact  for  his  own  person- 
al safety,  to  keep  him  under  confinement  in  the  fort. 
When  the  news  came, that  William  and  Mary  were 
proclaimed  king  and  queen,  it  was  received  with  joy 
by  the  inhabitants  of  New  Kngland.  Soon  after, 
sir  Edmund  demanded  his  liberty  ;  but  the  repre- 
sentatives resolved  that  he,  with  several  others, could 
not  be  adnutted  to  bail,  and  they  were  kept  in  pri- 
son until  by  orders  from  the  king  they  were  sent  to 
England.     The  king  gave  assurances  that  he  should 


AND  35 

be  removed,  and  promised  Mr.  agent  Mather  that  he 
should  be  made  to  answer  for  his  mal-conduct  Com- 
plaints against  him  were  laid  before  the  privy  coun- 
cil ;  and  at  the  same  time  he  preferred  acharij^e  against 
the  colony  for  rebellion,  imprisoning  the  king's  gov- 
ernor, &c.  The  next  day  they  were  all  discharged  ; 
and  upon  a  report  made  to  his  majesty  in  council, 
the  matter  was  dismissed  by  both  parties. 

Andross  was  afterwards  made  governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  arrived  there  in  Feb    1692.    He  brought 
over  the  college  charter.     Whether  he  had  become 
more  mild   by  age,    more  wise   by  experience,  or 
found  it  to  be  more  for  his  interest,  there  was  a 
change  in  his  measures,  and  his  administration  is 
spoken  well  of  by  the  historians  of  the  province.   He 
gave  encouragement  to  agriculture,   manufactures, 
and  the  arts.      Fulling  mills   were   erected  by  act 
of  assembly  in  his  time,  the  cultivation  of  cotton, 
he  particularly  favoured.   He  loved  method  and  dis- 
patch in  all  kind  of  business.    During  his  adminis- 
tration the  state  house  was  destroyed  by  fire,  togeth- 
er with  many  of  the  original  patents,   records,  and 
deeds  of  land,  &c.    He  was  very  assiduous  in  sort- 
ing such  as  were  saved,  and  caused  them  to  be  regis- 
tered in  a  better  manner  than  they  had  been  before. 
He  offered  to  rebuild  the  state  house  several  times  ; 
and  it  was  thought,  that  much  of  the  expense  which 
attended  the  rebuilding  of  it  would  have  been  saved 
if  he  had  continued  in  the  government.       But  he 
was  removed  in  1698,  and  was  succeeded  by  Fran- 
cis  Nicholson,  esq.       From  that  time  there  was  an 
end  of  improvement  in  manufactures,   towns  and 
trade.    Sir  Edmund  Andross  died  in  London,  Feb, 
24,  1713—14.*     Smith's   Hist,    N,    Tork.     J\/eiL 
Cook'^s  letter,     Bci)erly''s  Hist,  of  Virginia, 

*  Beverly  relates  an  anecdote  of  sir  Kdmund  which  deserves 
to  be  repeated,  as  shewiKg  a  trait  in  his  charader,  though  wc 
do  not  vouch  for  its  truth. — Beinsj  upon  a  journey,  he  stooped  at 
a  poor  man's  house  in  Stafford  county  and  asked  for  a  drink  of 
w^atcr.  An  ancient  woman  came  out  to  him,  with  a  brisk  lively 
lad  of  about  12  vca.rs  ofai^-e.  The  lad  was  of  a  ruddy  and  fair 
complexion,  Rnd  excited  the  governor's  curiosity  so  much  .that  he 


36  ASH 

AsHUKST  Henry  sir,  Massachusetts  agent  at  the 
court  of  Great  Britain,  was  the  son  of  Henry 
Ashurst,  esq.  who  was  a  member  of  parliament, 
and  friend  to  New  England.  It  is  said  that  he  had 
a  ''  great  hand  in  settling  the  corporation  for  pro- 
pagating the  gospel  among  the  Indians  in  New  En- 
gland, and  the  parts  adjacent  "  The  father  and 
son  ^^  ere  both  favourable  to  the  dissenters  ;  yet  the 
latter  was  made  a  baronet  by  Charles  the  'id,  his 
lady  being  the  daughter  of  lord  Paget,  and  himself 
a  favourite,  which  may  seem  strange,  as  he  was  a 
xnan  more  remarkable  for  his  uprightness,  his  at- 
tachment to  religion,  and  friendly  propensities,  than 
brilliant  parts.  He  had,  hov/ever,  great  influence 
at  court,  and  yet  very  often  relieved  dissenting  mi- 
nisters when  they  were  fined,  or  sent  to  prison.  Mr. 
Hutchinson  says,  that  the  family  of  Ashurst  had  al- 
ways been  favourable  to  these  plantations  ;  and, 
therefore,  sir  Henry  was  chosen  agent.  The  first  ad- 
dresses that  were  sent  from  Massachusetts,  after  the 
restoration, went  through  his  hands,  as  the  medium  of 
communication  with  the  king.  When  Dr.  Increase 
Mather  appeared  at  the  British  court  to  obtain  re- 
dress of  grievances,  and  favour  for  Massachusetts 
colony,  he  engaged  sir  H.  Ashurst  to  make  appli- 
cation, in  the  character  of  their  agent.  He  continued 
in  this  relation  to  the  colony  for  several  years,  and 
his  services  were  acknowledged  with  gratitude.  At 
length,  a  diHerent  influence  prevailed  among  the 
members   of    our   general   court  ;      and   as  they 

proceeded  to  ask  some  questions  respccling  him.  To  his  great 
surprise  he  was  assured  that  he  was  the  son  ot  this  woman,  at  76 
years  of  age.  His  excellency  smiHng  at  tliis  improbable  story, 
enquired  what  sort  of  a  man  had  been  his  father.  The  good  wo- 
man made  no  reply,  but  ran  and  led  her  husband  to  the  door,  who 
was  above  an  hundred  yccirs  old.  He  confirmed  what  the  woman 
iiad  said.  Notwithstanding  his  great  age,  he  was  strong  in  his 
limbs  and  voice,  but  had  lost  his  sight.  The  woman  had  no 
complaint  and  retained  a  vigour  uncommon  at  her  years.  Sir 
jLdmund  was  pleased  at  this  extraordinary  account ;  made  hinn- 
self  known  to  her,  and  offered  to  take  care  of  the  lad  ;  but  the  old 
folks  would  not  part  with  him.  However,  he  made  them  a  present 
of  twenty  pounds. 


A  U  C  37_ 

could  not  make  him  subservient  to  their  party  zeal, 
he  was  dismissed  from  the  agency,  without  receiv- 
ing even  the  pecuniary  reward  to  which  he  was 
justly  entitled.  This  excited  his  honest  resentment, 
and  showed  how  much  republicks  want  gratitude-: 
He  died  in  1710. 

His  brother,  sir  JViUiam  Ashurst,  possessed  supe- 
rior talents.  The  party  in  opposition  to  Dudley 
chose  him  agent,  but  he  refused  the  office,  *'  being 
well  acquainted  with  the  slights  put  upon  his  bro- 
ther.'* He  recommended  Jeremiah  Dummer,  who^ 
was  afterwards  chosen. 

AucHMUTY  Robert,  an  eminent  barrister  dur-.- 
ing  the  administration  of  Belcher  and  Shirley.  He 
was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  LancJ  Bank.SLudwsts 
sent  to  i,ngland,  1741,  being  joined  with  Kilby  in 
thvi  agency.  His  particular  business  was  to  settle 
the  Rhode  Island  dispute  concerning  the  line. 
While  he  was  in  England,  he  laid  the  plan  of  an 
expedition  to  Cape  Breton.  He  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  ministry,  dated,  Cecil  street,  1744. 

The  latter  years  of  his  life  he  was  judge  advocate 
of  the  court  of  admiralty. 

He  left  two  sons,  and  one  daughter,  whom  Mr^ 
Pratt  married,  who  was  afterwards  chief  justice  of 
New  York.  The  sons  were  eminent  in  their  pro- 
fession. Samuel  the  eldest  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard  College,  1742,  was  minister  of  the  Episcopal 
church  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  received  a 
degree  of  doctor  in  divinity  from  the  university  of 
Oxford. 

AucHMUTY  Robert  succeeded  his  father  in  his 
line  of  business  ;  had  not  a  college  education,  but 
v/as  a  most  agreeable  speaker  at  the  bar ;  his  tongue 
was  mellifluous,  and  his  manner  very  interesting 
to  the  jury.  In  legal  knowledge  he  was  doubtless 
inferior  to  several  of  his  contemporaries,  but  in  all 
important  causes,  where  addresses  were  to  be  made 
to  the  jury,  he  was  applied  to,  and  was  generally 
iUGcessful.      He  was  appointed  judge  of  the  admi- 


38  BAG 

rally,  1768.  But,  upon  one  occasion,  he  appeared  af- 
ter this,  as  a  pleader  at  the  bar.  He  was  council 
with  Mr.  Adams,  for  capt.  Thomas  Preston,  and 
perhaps  no  plea  was  ever  more  admired,  though  the 
tide  of  prejudice  was  much  against  his  cause.  It 
has  been  since  handed  round  in  mss,  but  at  this  day, 
in  the  reading,  it  tails  far  short  of  the  delivery. 

Judge  Auchmuty  was  a  zealous  royalist,  and  left 
America,  1776,  and  died  in  England. 

Avery  John,  of  New  Sarum,  came  to  New 
England  in  1535.  The  people  of  Marblehead  de- 
sired  him  to  be  their  minister,  but  he  declined  ; 
because  the  church  was  not  gathered,  and  wen  to 
i^^u'^z/ry,  with  a  view  of  fixing  his  habitation  in  that 
town.  In  the  course  of  the  year  he  had  pressing 
solicitations  from  the  inhabitants  of  Marblehead, 
to  sit  down  with  them,  and  Mr.  Cotton,  with  other 
eminent  men,  advising  him,  he  consented  to  go 
there.  He  embarked  on  board  a  pinnace,  -ugust 
11,  1635.  The  company  consisted  of  twenty 
three,  among  them  Mr.  Antony  'I'hacher  and 
family,  and  Mr.  William  Eliot,  who  also  came 
from  New  Sarum  in  the  same  ship.  On  the 
14th  day  of  the  month,  they  met  with  a  vio- 
lent gale  which  overset  the  pinnace.  Mr.  Avery 
was  washed  by  a  wave  upon  the  island  called 
Thacher'^s  Woe^  from  this  melancholy  circumstance, 
several  of  Mr.  Thacher's  family  being  shipwrecked 
upon  it.  Mr.  Thacher  also  named  the  rock  upon 
which  they  stood,  Avery's  fall,  because  he  tell 
from  it,  and  perished  in  the  waters.  It  bears  the 
name  to  the  present  day. 

Backus  Isaac,  pastor  of  the  first  Baptist  church 
in  Middlcborough,  is  eminent  among  the  divines, 
and  historians  of  New  England. 

He  had  not  the  advantage  of  a  university  educa- 
tion,  but  his  reading  was  extensive,  his  memory  te- 
nacious, his  mind  strong.  He  was  a  zealous 
preacher,  an  eager  disputant,  upright  in  his  con- 
duct, though  his  speech  and  manners  were  rough. 


BAG  S^ 

Mr.  Backus  was  born  at  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
1724;  was  ordained  over  a  Congregational  church  in 
Middleborough,  1748  ;  became  a  convert  to  the 
sentiments  of  the  Antipedobaptists,  1756.  He  was 
active  in  forming  a  church  of  that  persuasion,  and 
the  same  year  was  installed  as  their  pastor,  which  re- 
lation was  continued  until  his  death  in  the  year  1806. 

The  town  of  Middleborough  chose  him  one  of 
their  delegates  in  the  convention  which  adopted 
the  federal  constitution,  and  he  made  a  speech  in 
favour  of  it.  This  speech  he  read,  though  he  al- 
ways preached  extempore.  He  never  missed  an 
opportunity  to  censure  the  custom  of  carrying  notes 
into  the  pulpit,  and  the  latter  part  of  his  life  ex- 
pressed his  chagrin,  that  so  many  of  his  own  de- 
nomination should  imitate  the  common  practice. 

He  was,  however,  a  very  industrious  man  in 
writing  upon  many  subjects  both  of  theology,  and 
the  antiquities  of  the  country. 

The  history  of  the  Baptists  is  in  three  volumes. 
The  two  first,  he  afterwards  abridged  in  one  smaller 
octavo  volume. 

This  work  contains  many  facts,  much  important 
information,  and  would  be  read  with  more  interest, 
had  it  been  written  with  less  party  spirit.  This  may 
give  a  zest  to  logical  essays  ;  it  is  always  expected 
in  theological  controversies,  but  it  tarnishes  the 
pure  and  serene  lustre  of  the  historick  page.* 

•  His  other  works  v/ould  (if  bound  together)  make  several  vo- 
lumes. They  consist  of  pamphlets  which  are  controversial 
pieces,  essays,  sermons,  and  many  of  them  phillipicks  against  the 
oppressive  acts  of  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts,  and  also 
against  the  tyranny  of  the  Congregational  churches. 

Upon  this  subject  he  also  wrote  many  fugitive  pieces  in  the 
newspapers. 

The  Histmca!  SocifCy  \vere  benefited  by  his  labours.  He 
wrote  a  history  of  Middleborough  which  is  published  in  a  third 
volume  of  their  collections.  He  also  contributed  other  commu- 
nications, being  very  exact  as  to  dates,  and  accurate  in  correcting 
topographical  errors. 

There  was  no  funeral  sermon  printed  after  his  death,  but  a 
short  sketch  of  his  character  is  given  in  the  Baptist  missionary 
magazine,  T-b.  1807; 


40  B  A  I 

Bailey  John,  one  of  the  ejected  ministers,  1662^ 
went  to  Limerick  in  Ireland,  and  then  found  it  ne- 
cessary to  remove  to  New  England.  He  was  assist- 
ant minister  of  the  first  church  in  Boston   from  the 
year  1693  to  1697,  the  year  of  his  death.     He  was 
54  years  old  when  he  died      The  members  of  the 
church  were  desirous  he  should  settle  as  colleague 
pastor  with  Mr.  Allen,  but  he  declined,    Mr.  Neal 
mentions  his  being  minister  at  Watertown,  as  well 
as  his  brother  Thomas,  who  left  Ireland  at  the  same 
time,    and  who  was,  afterwards,  minister  of  the 
church  in  that  place.     They  both  took  up  their  re- 
sidence    in   Watertown,   but   Mr.  J.   Bailey    only 
preached  occasionally  there,  as  in  other  churches, 
until  he  became  aissistant  to  Mr.  Allen   after  the 
death   of  Mr,   Oxenbridge.       The   author  of  the 
Magnalia  celebrates  his  piety  in  several  pages.     He 
ivas  among  his  greatest  favourites.     His  own  works 
also  praise  him.    His  printed  address  to  the  people  at 
Limericky  which  he  wrote  in   1684,  is  full  of  good 
advice  ;    it  is  sensible  and  pathetick.      He  says  he 
was  not  allowed  to  preach  a  farewell  sermon  to 
them,  and  therefore  sends  a  long  letter.      he  also 
wrote  a  hook  upon  the  glory  oj  God  ;  and  the  'way  in 
ixihtch  his  people  may  glorify  him. 

He  was  buried  in  the  common  burial  place,  near 
the  old  alms-house,  and  around  the  spot  lie  many 
of  his  descendants.  Of  his  posterity  now  living  are 
two  grand  children  ;  three  great  grand  children ; 
and  several  of  the  fifth  generation.  These  are  in 
the  female  line,  and  bear  the  name  of  Willis  or  Bel- 
knap. 

Bailey  Thomas,  minister  of  Watertown,  also 
one  of  the  ejected  ministers.  He  preached  chiefly 
to  the  people  in  that  town  ;  but  was  a  man  very 
acceptable  to  people  in  other  places.  A  traveller, 
who  was  in  New  England  in  their  time,  says  he  vis- 
ited the  brothers,  J.  and  T.  Bailey,  in  Boston.  He 
calls  them  ministers  of  Boston  ;  which  has  led  some 
to  doubt  the  correctness  of  his  relation  in  other 
parts  of  his  book. 


B  A  L  41 

Among  the  curious  mss.  in  the  cabinet  of  the 
Historical  Society,  arc  a  number  of  Latin  odes  or 
poems  in  d liferent  kinds  of  verse,  by  Thomas  Bailey, 
all  dated,  1668,  at  Lindsay. 

Balch  William,  minister  of  the  second  church 
in  Bradford,  was  born  at  Beverly,  1704.  He  possess- 
ed strong;  powers  of  mind.  Few  of  our  New  England 
divines  have  surpassed  him  in  clearness  of  percep- 
tion, comprehension  of  understanding  or  soundness 
of  judgment.  The  simplicity  of  his  manners  was 
peculiar,  and  he  had  a  softness  and  benevolence  in 
his  disposition,  which  he  discovered  on  occasions 
where  most  men  would  have  been  irritated.  He 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1724,  ordained, 
1728,  and  died,  1792. 

The  first  years  of  his  ministry  were  spent  in  peace 
and  harmony  with  his  people  and  the  neighbouring 
chui  ches.  At  length  a  spirit  of  disorganization  pre- 
vailed in  many  places,  especially  hi  the  towns  near 
the  river  Merrimack.  Nine  members  of  Mr. 
Balch's  church  declared  themselves  dissatisfied  v/ith 
the  preaching  of  their  minister,  and  made  a  formal 
complaint  to  the  brethren.  The  church  thought 
the  complaint  unreasonable  ;  and  refused  to  act 
upon  it.  Hence  the  aggrieved  party  applied  to  a 
neighbouring  church  to  admonish  their  pastor  and 
brethren,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  platform, 
by  the  third  %vay  of  communion  *  The  church  voted 
to  call  a  council  of  the  neighbouring  churches  and 
the  result  was  signed  by  the  moderator,  the  vene- 
rable John  Barnard,  minister  of  the  first  church  in 
Andover^  blaming  the  conduct  of  those  who  com- 
plained, and  approving  the  doings  of  the  church. 
Mr,  Balch  published  the  whole  proceedings  in  a 
quarto  pamphlet,  containing  the  letters  that  passed 
between  him  and  the  first  church  in  Gloucester,  and 
the  transactions  of  both  churches,  till  the  dispute 
was  settled.  This  was  printed  1744,  Two  years  af- 

*qh^p  15. 


43^  B  AL 

ter  the  parochial  difference,  Messrs.  Wigglesworth 
of  Ipswich,  and  Chipman  of  Beverly,  made  a  seri- 
ous attack  upon  their  brother  Balch  for  propagating 
Arniinian  tenets,  and  wrote  an  able  defence  of  the 
doctrines  of  Calvin,  which  were  generally  the  sen- 
timents of  the  New  England  planters.  It  seems  the 
former  controversy  began  in  1744,  by  a  declaration 
oftlie  aggrieved  brethren,  that  "their  pastor  propa- 
gated doctrines,  not  agreeing  with  the  confession  of 
Jail/i  of  these  Congr eg atioiitil  churches  ;'''*  and  also 
that  tlie  church  "•  neglected  the  proper  means  of 
convicting  said  pastor  of  his  errors."  The  gentle- 
man who  wrote  against  him  in  1746,  had  been  as- 
sisting those  who  had  complained ;  and  they  were 
not  satisfied  with  the  result  of  the  council.  Their 
work,  however,  had  no  other  effect  than  to  draw 
from  Mr.  B.  a  most  able  reply  in  v/hich  he  mani- 
fested a  temper  that,  with  all  his  meekness,  could 
feel  rebuke.  There  is  much  keen  satire  mingled 
with  sensible  remark  and  solid  argument. 

The  separatists  in  Bradford,  after  this,  built  a 
meeting  house  for  themselves,  and  the  disaffected 
members  of  other  churches.  Mr.  B.  lived  to  a 
good  old  age.  His  own  fiock  esteemed  and  loved 
him,  and  when  he  was  advanced  in  years  settled  a 
colleague.  He  lived  retired  and  was  fond  of  hus- 
bandry ;  and  the  fruit  of  his  orchard  was  said  to  be 
the  best  in  the  county  of  Essex.  He  was  fond  of 
the  company  of  young  men  of  talents,  and  had  fine 
colloquial  powers,  especially  in  discussing  theologi- 
cal subjects.  Being  very  desirous  to  read  every 
thing  new  upon  ethicks,  and  meiaphysicks,  he  made 
many  enquiries  which  discovered  freedom  of  thought^ 
and  proved  the  energy  of  his  mind  did  not  fail  him 
m  those  years  when  "  our  strength  is  labour  and 
sorrow."* 

*  His  publications  are — a  Dlsconvfe  upon  self  rii^htcojisness  i7i 
ivhich  he  declares  what  are  fahe  covjiaences-,  iVorn  the  parable  of 
the  fiharisee  and  fmblican^  1742. — L.lection  sermon,  1749, — His 
account  of  the  proceedings  of  t'le  council  and  his  reply  to  Messrs,: 
W.  and  C.  make  two  pamphlets  of  more  than  fifty  pages. 


BAR  1*3 

Bari-tabd  John,  minister  of  the  first  church  in 
Marblehead,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1700,  and  ordained,  1716.  He  was  appointed  chap- 
lain of  the  army  sent  in  1707  to  reduce  Port  Royal, 
now  Annapolis,  and  left  a  particular  account  of  the 
expedition  in  mss.  Afterwards  he  went  to  England 
with  capt.Wentworth,the  gentleman,  who,  in  1717, 
was  appointed  lieut  gov.  of  New  Hampshire.  He 
was  in  habits  of  intimacy,  during  his  residence  in 
London,  with  many  eminent  ministers  ;  and  a  curi- 
ous spectator  of  those  busy  scenes,  which  were  open- 
ed by  the  trial  of  Dr.  Sacheverel,  in  the  latter  part 
of  queen  Anne's  reign.  When  he  arrived  in  Boston 
he  expected  to  have  been  fixed  in  a  church  then 
building  iii  North  street ;  but  Dr.  Mather's  influ- 
ence in  favour  of  another  young  man  prevented  this 
connexion.  This  he  always  felt  as  a  cruel  disap« 
pointment.  He  was  a  member  of  the  old  North 
Church,  and  the  new  society  proceeded  from  it; 
he  looked  up  to  Dr  Increase  Mather  as  his  father  ; 
he  was  therefore  wounded  by  his  nearest  friends. 

Another  kind  of  prejudice  prevented  his  settling 
at  Roxbury,  and  which  shows  how  unpopular  the 
character  of  Dudley  was  in  the  neighbourhood  where 
he  dwelt.  He  paid  some  particular  attentions  to 
Mr.  Barnard,  which  is  the  reason  given  why  the 
people  would  not  have  him  for  their  minister.  1  he 
inhabitants  of  Marblehead  not  having  any  political 
bias,  nor  any  personal  prejudice,  gave  him  the  pre- 
ference of  several  candidates  who  were  preaching 
upon  probation,  according  to  the  New  England 
phrase,  which  perhaps  is  peculiar  to  our  churches. 
He  was  a  burning  and  shining  light  for  many  years, 
and  his  praise  was  in  all  the  churches.  His  own 
people  reverenced  him  as  their  father  and  friend, 
and  he  seemed  like  a  high  priest  among  the  clergy 
of  the  land.  He  walked  erect  in  his  88th  year,  re- 
taining the  vigour  of  his  imagination  and  tone  of 
voice,  as  one  sensible  of  the  importance  of  his  cha- 
racter.      He  spake  with  energy  upon  every  subject 


44  BAR 

as  though  he  would  impress  the  rising  generation 
that  grey  hairs  were  tlie  mark  of  wisdom,  not  of 
weakness.  Such  instances  are  rare,  where  minis- 
ters increase  their  influence  in  old  age  ;  but  those 
who  now  recollect  Mr.  B.  often  mention  the  digni- 
ty of  his  appearance,  and  the  great  respect  hhown 
him  by  all  classes  of  people.  His  bodily  constitution 
was  so  strong  that,  exc^ept  once,  he  never  was  con- 
fined by  sickness,  till  the  year  of  his  death,  1770, 
etat.  89.  He  left  no  children,  and  his  estate  was 
given  for  pious  and  charitable  uses. 

In  a  e^^rtaia  mss.  with  the  college  catalogue,  against 
his  name  is  Harvardini  CoUegii  benef.  munificus. 

In  his  diary^  certain  improvements  in  the  police 
of  the  town  are  said  to  have  arisen  from  his  advice 
and  exertions.  He  first  gave  a  spring  to  that  com- 
mercial enterprise  which  changed  the  town  of  Mar- 
blehead  from  a  fishing  place,  to  the  second  rank  of 
any  town  in  Massachusetts.  He  even  instructed 
them  in  ship  building,  and  military  tacticks.  He 
certainly  had  a  great  mechanical  genius,  and  was  as 
industrious,  as  he  was  enterprising.  In  the  year 
1745  he  was  chosen  chaplain  of  the  troops  that 
went  to  Louisbourg,  but  he  declined  on  account  of 
his  age. 

He  was  unfortunate  in  thinking  himself  a  poet, 
because,  from  this  mistaken  idea,  he  published  a 
version  of  the  psalms,  which  was  never  adopted  in 
any  other  church  than  his  own.  The  vanity  of  this 
good  man  appeared  in  his  fondness  for  his  own  pro- 
ductions on  a  variety  of  subjects.  He  was  willing 
to  publish  whatever  he  wrote,  and  it  seems  from  his 
memoirs  that  he  was  partial  to  himself  in  some  other 
respects. 

His  theological  publications  do  him  much  hon- 
our, and  have  been  very  useful  in  comforting  and 
edifying  pious  minds.  They  consist  of  several  oc« 
tavo  volumes  bound,  and  many  pamphlets  and  ser- 
mons,* 

*  The  imperfection  of  the  creature,  a  number  of  sermons  or. 


BAR  45 

Barnard  Thomas,  minister  of  the  first  chnrch 
in  Salem,  was  the  son  of  the  rev.  John  Barnard  of 
Andover,and  respected  as  one  of  the  most  profound, 
liberal,  and  excellent  men  of  his  profession.  He 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1732,  ordained 
at  first  over  a  church  in  Newbury,  Jan,  31,  1738, 
but  was  disturbed  by  fanaticks  who  went  about  to 
txpose  unconverted  ministers,  and  make  divisions 
in  societies.  A  letter  addressed  to  Joseph  Adams, 
one  of  the  most  zealous  of  these  eccentrick  preach- 
ers, by  Mr. Barnard,  gives  a  just  state  of  the  disor- 
ders in  the  country  at  that  time.  Mr.  Barnard  was 
the  object  of  peculiar  animosity,  as  he  was  a  man  of 
superior  talents  and  acquirements  ;  and  they  had  a 
strong  prejudice  against  human  learning,  being  ve- 
ry ignorant  themselves,  and  owing  their  importance 
to  the  ignorance  of  the  people.  He  was  dismissed 
from  the  church  at  Newbury  at  his  own  desire,  and 
many  were  grieved,  not  only  of  his  neighbours  and 
friends,  but  of  those  who  thought  losing  such  a  man 
from  the  ministry  was  an  injury  to  the  cause  of 
pure,  rational,  and  evangelical  piety. 

After  leaving  Newbury,  he  studied  law,  and  was 
a  practitioner  at  the  bar.  He  was  representative  to 
the  general  court  from  Newbury,  but  his  mind  was 
more  bent  on  theological  studies  than  upon  affairs 
of  civil  life.  His  abilities  were  conspicuous  in  all 
kinds  of  business,  but  his  friends  were  fully  per- 
suaded he  would  be  more  happy  and  more  useful 
as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  Hence  he  accepted  an 
invitation  from  the  first  church  in  Salem  to  be  their 
pastof*,  upon  the  death  of  the  rev.  John  Sparhawk. 
He  was  installed,  Sept.  18,  1755.  It  was  much  to 
the  honour  of  Mr,  Barnard  that  the  gentleman  who 

Psalm,  cxix,  9,  8vo.  1747. — Mercy  to  sinners  by  the  gos- 
ptl,  u  vol.  8vo.  on  Acts  xvi,  3(),  1750. — The  election  sermon, 
1734. — Convention  sermon — Dudlean  lectine'iipon  the  evidences 
of  Christianity,  1756. 

His  various  printed  discourses,  without  those  above  mentioned, 
make  four  octavp  volumes  in  the  coilegt;  library. 


4a  B  A  It 

first  addressed  the  church  in  his  favour  was  one,  whc5> 
adorned  the  supreme  bench  as  chief  justice,  and 
would  have  been  an  ornament  to  any  profession ; 
his  affection  for  the  place  of  his  nativity  made  him 
naturally  care  for  their  state.  More  literary  charac- 
ters were  members  of  this  church  than  of  any  in  the 
province  ;  and  their  eyes  were  turned  towards  a 
gentleman  whose  talents  were  known,  as  he  would 
have  so  good  an  opportunity  to  exert  them.  This 
very  respectable  society  had  reason  to  be  satisfied 
with  the  choice  they  made.  As  long  as  he  lived, 
he  was  esteemed  and  beloved  by  the  wisest  and  best 
part  of  the  community.  His  manner  of  preaching 
was  grave,  slow  and  distinct.  He  had  not  sufficient 
animation  in  his  delivery,  but  his  sermons  were  ra- 
tional and  judicious,  calculated  for  hearers  of 
thoughtful  minds,  without  that  unction^  popular 
preachers  have,  and  which  seems  necessary  to  give 
a  charm  to  public  discourses.  It  was  observed  al- 
so by  men  of  good  sense,  that  Mr.  Barnard's  style 
of  preaching  was  not  the  most  perspicuous.  His 
favourite  author  was  bishop  Butler,  whose  writings 
are  more  remarkable  for  masterly  reasoning,  than 
line  turned  sentences.  In  the  deistical  controversy 
Mr.  B.  was  superior  to  most  divines,  and  he  often 
made  it  the  subject  of  his  publick  discourses. 

In  his  sentiments  he  was  considered  as  a  follower 
of  Arminius  rather  than  Calvin  ;  he  was  a  semi- 
Arian  of  Dr.  Clarke's  school. 

He  suffered  much  from  paralytick  complaints  the 
last  years  of  his  valuable  life.  His  memory  left  him, 
and  he  could  only  read  his  notes  by  close  attention 
to  the  writing.  In  1772,  Mr.  Dunbar,  a  young 
preacher  of  <.  xtraordinary  genius,  was  settled  a  col- 
league ;  but  Mr.  Barnard  continued  to  preach  till 
within  a  few  weeks  of  his  death.  He  died,  August 
15,  1776,  aged  60  years.  The  late  Dr.  A.  Kliot 
preached  the  funeral  sermon,  at  the  desire  of  the 
church,  Thev  were  long  acquainted,  and  sincere- 
ly loved  each  other,  and  the  discourse  spoke  the 


B  A  R  47 

ian^^uage  of  the  heart,  while  it  gave  just  conceptions 
of  the  character  of  his  friend.* 

Barnard  Edward,  minister  of  Haverhill,  was 
the  younger  son  of  Mr.  B.  of  Andover,  and  a  most 
accomplished  preacher.  He  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1736,  and  ordained  at  Haverhill,  1743, 
His  popular  talents  were  not  eminent,  but  his  dis- 
courses were  correct  and  excellent  composition,  and 
highly  relished  by  scholars  and  men  of  taste.  He 
was  a  fine  classical  scholar,  and  excelled  in  poetry 
as  well  as  prose.  It  was  much  regretted  that  he 
did  not  publish  niore,  as  what  he  did  publish  was  so 
acceptable.  His  sermon  upon  the  good  man  would 
do  honour  to  any  divine.  He  preached  the  election 
sermon,  1766;  the  convention  sermon,  1773,  which 
was  printed,  and  an  ordination  sermon  when  Mr. 
Cary  was  settled  at  Newbury. 

The  expectations  of  his  friends  were  excited,  when 
proposals  were  issued  to  publish  a  volume  of  ser« 
mons  in  1774,  the  year  of  his  death  ;  but  the  revo- 
lutionary war  commenced  before  they  were  com- 
mitted  to  the  press,  and  during  those  years  there 
was  no  encouragement  for  any  thing,  but  what  bore 
an  aspect  upon  the  times. 

Of  his  poetry  nothing  is  to  be  found  except  a  po- 
em upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Abiel  Abbot^  his  friend,  at 
College,  who  took  his  degree,  1737. 

Babtlett  Josiah,  governor  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, was  born  at  Amesbury,  in  the  county  of  Es- 
sex, Massachusetts,  2 1st  Nov.  1729.  His  ances- 
tors, came  from  the  south  of  England,  and  fixed  at 
>»ievvbury.  The  rudiments  of  his  education  he  re- 
ceived at  Amesbury,  at  the  town  school;  and  hav- 
ing a  thirst  for  knowledge  he  applied  himself  to 
books  in  various  languages,  in  which  he  was  assist- 
ed by  a  neighbouring  clergyman,   the  rev.  Mn 

*  His  publications  arc,  a  sermon  before  the  society  for  promot- 
ing industry,  1757  ;  a  funeral  strmon  on  rev.  P.  Clark,  Danvers, 
1768  ;  sermon  at  tl.e  Dudleian  lecture,  1768;  also,  election,  scr- 
aion,  artillery  election,  and  three  ordination  sermons, 


48  BAR 

Webster,  of  Salisbury,  an  excellent  scholar  as  well 
as  judicious  divine.  Mr.  Bartlett  had  the  benefit  of 
his  library  and  conversation,  while  he  studied  phy- 
sick  with  a  gentleman,  who  was  a  practitioner  in  his 
native  town.  At  the  age  of  21,  he  began  the  prac- 
tice of  physick  in  Kingston,  and  very  soon  became 
very  eminent  in  the  line  of  his  profession.  In  1764^ 
a  field  was  open  for  the  useful  display  of  his  skill. 
The  cynanche  maligna  became  very  prevalent  in  ma- 
ny towns  of  New  Hampshire,  and  was  a  fatal  disease 
among  children.  The  mediod  of  treatino;  it  was  as 
a  highly  phlogistick  complaint  ;  but  he  was  led 
from  his  own  reason  and  observations  to  manage  it 
diffcrentlv.  He  made  use  of  the  Penin)ian  bark,  as 
an  antidote  and  preventative,  and  his  practice  w^as 
successful.  This  afterwards  become  general  among 
physicians. 

In  1765,  Dr.  Bartlett  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  legislature,  and  from  this  time  was  annually 
elected  till  the  revolution.  He  soon  after  was  made 
justice  of  the  peace.  In  1770,  he  was  appointed 
lieut.  col  of  the  7th  regiment  of  militia.  These 
Commissions  he  was  deprived  of  in  1774,  on  ac- 
count of  the  active  part  he  took  in  the  controversy 
with  Great  Britain.  This  was  a  time  when  "  the 
clashing  of  parties  excited  strong  passions,  which 
frequently  gained  the  mastery  of  reason."  The 
governor  and  council  of  New  Hampshire  saw 
fit  to  dissolve  the  house  of  assembly,  supposing  that 
a  new  one  might  become  more  flexible,  or  be  more 
subservient  to  their  wishes.  In  the  mean  while, 
col,  Bartlett,  with  several  others  planned  a  kind  of 
authority  which  was  called  a  committee  of  safety. 
They  met  at  Exeter,  and  in  the  course  of  events, 
were  obliged  to  take  upon  themselves  the  whole  ex- 
ecutive government  of  the  state.  When  a  provin- 
cial  congress  had  again  organised  the  government, 
col.  Bartlett  received  a  new  appointment  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  col.  of  the  7th  regiment. 

The  first  members  who  were  chosen  to  represent 


BAR  49 

?he  state  in  congress  were  col.  Bartlett  and  Mr. 
Pickering  of  Portsmouth.  This  was  in  1774. — - 
They  were  both  excused  from  going  to  Philadel- 
phia ;  and  Mr.  Folsom,  and  major  Sullivan  were 
elected.  Col.  ivartlett  was  prevented  from  accept- 
ing this  honourable  trust  by  the  unhappy  condition 
of  his  domestic  affliirs;  his  house  having  been  burnt, 
his  family  were  obliged  to  seek  a  shelter  without 
any  thing  but  the  clothes  they  had  upon  them.  He 
was  elected  member  of  the  second  congress  which 
assembled  at  Philadelphia  the  next  year,  and  also 
attended  his  duty  in  the  same  station,  1  776.  He 
was  the  first  that  signed  the  declaration  of  indepen- 
dence after  the  president. 

In  1777,  col.  Rartlett  and  gen.  Peabody  were  ap- 
pointed agents  to  provide  medical  aid  and  other  nee- 
essaries  for  the  New  Hampshire  troops,  who  went 
wiih  gen.  Stark,  and  for  this  purpose  repaired  to 
Bennington,  a  spot  distinguished  by  a  battle  very 
important  in  its  consequences.  In  April,  1778,  he 
again  went  as  a  delegate  to  congress  with  John 
Wentworth,  esq  of  Dover.^-He  returned  in  No- 
vember, and  would  no  longer  appear  as  a  candidate 
for  that  office. 

When  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  was  organized, 
under  a  popular  government,  col.  Bartlett  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  common  pleas  ;  in  June,  1782^ 
a  judge  of  the  supreme  court ;  in  1788,  chief  ju*s- 
tice. 

In  June,  1790,  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
state,  which  office  he  held  till  the  Constitution  abro- 
gated the  office  of  president,  and  substituted  the  ti- 
tle of  the  chief  magistrate,  governor.  He  was  then 
chosen  the  first  governor  of  New  Hampshire  since 
the  revolution.  He  resigned  the  chair  in  1794,  on 
account  of  his  infirm  state  of  health,  and  then  retir- 
ed from  publick  business. 

He  had  been  the  chief  agent  in  forming  the  medi- 
cal society  of  New  Hampshire,  which  was  incorporat- 
ed in  17^1,  of  which  he  was  president,  till  his  public 


50  B  AS 

labours  ceased,  and  when  he  resigned,  he  received  a 
wsLvm  acknowledgment  of  his  services  and  patronage, 
in  a  letter  of  thanks  which  is  upon  the  records  o^  the 
society.  He  was  always  a  patron  of  learning  and  a 
friend  to  learned  men.  Without  the  advantages  of  a 
college  education  he  was  an  example  to  stimulate 
those  who  have  been  blessed  with  every  advantage  in 
early  life,  but  cannot  exhibit  such  improvement  of 
their  talents,  or  such  exertions  in  the  cause  of  lit- 
erature. It  was  his  opinion  that  repubiicks  cannot 
exist  vv^ithout  knowledge  and  virtue  in  the  people. 

He  received  an  honorary  degree  of  doctor  of  med- 
icine from  Dartmouth  University,  and  was  an  bono- 
rary  member  of  the  Agricultural  Society. 

Gov.  Bartlett  did  not  live  long  after  he  resigned 
his  publick  employments.  His  health  had  been  de- 
clining a  number  of  years.  In  1789  he  lost  his 
wife,  a  very  amiable  lady,  with  v/hom  he  had  lived 
happily ;  it  affected  his  spirits  and  increased  the 
lassitude  of  his  frame  ;  paralytick  affections  follow- 
ed, and  by  a  paroxysm  of  this  complaint  he  died  sud-^ 
denly.  May,  1795. 

Bass  Edward,  bishop  of  the  Episcopal  church 
in  Massachusetts,  was  born  at  Dorchester,  Nov.  23, 
1726,  and  was  graduated,  1744;  in  1752,  he  was 
invited  to  settle  at  the  episcopal  church  in  Newbu- 
ry, and  was  ordained  by  that  great  man,  Dr.  Sher- 
lock, then  bishop  of  London.  During  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  when  most  of  the  episcopal  churches 
were  left  destitute,  he  continued  to  preach,  and  by 
his  prudence,  mildness,  peaceable  and  inoffensive 
behaviour,  he  gained  the  esteem  and  affection  of 
people  who  were  very  different  in  their  politicks. 
In  July,  1789,  he  received  a  diploma  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  from  the  university  of  Philadelphia.  In 
1796  he  was  elected  unanimously,  by  the  conven- 
tion of  the  protestant  episcopal  churches  in  Massa- 
chusetts, to  the  office  of  bishop  of  that  church.  He 
was  consecrated  in  Christ  church,  7th  May,  1797, 
by  the  bishops  of  the  episcopal  churches  in  Penn- 
sylvania,  New  York  and  Maryland.      He  was  also 


BE  A  Bi 

elected  bishop  of  the  churches  of  the  same  denomi- 
nation in  Rhode  Island,  and  New  Hampshire. 

*'  Bishop  Bass  was  a  sound  divine,  a  critical 
scholar,  an  accomplished  gentleman,  an  exemplary 
christian.  On  the  10th  of  September,  1803,  after 
an  illness  of  two  days,  he  died  as  he  had  lived,  full 
of  piety,  resignation  and  humility."  Historical 
Collections,  "doL  IX. 

Beach  John,  an  eminent  writer  in  defence  of 
the  doctrine  and  government  of  the  church  of  Evi%- 
land,  was  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1721,  and 
officiated  some  years  as  a  congresrational  minister  at 
Newtown,  Connecticut.  He  declared  his  conform- 
ity to  the  church  of  England  in  1732,  and  many  of 
his  people  conformed  with  him.  The  same  year 
he  went  to  England  for  orders,  and  was  appointed 
their  minister.  He  continued  to  preach  to  this 
people,  and  the  church  at  Reading,  till  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  Mr.  Beach  was  well  respected  among 
the  several  denominations  for  his  learning  and  pie- 
ty. When  Dr.  Johnson  died,  who  had  been  presi- 
d9nt  of  the  college  in  New  Vork,  it  vvas  expected 
he  would  deliver  the  funeral  sermon.  He  was  un- 
able,  on  account  of  his  ill  state  of  health,  to  attend 
the  funeral,  but  afterwards  preached  and  printed  a 
discourse,  which  is  said  to  be  a  just  tribute  of  re- 
spect to  his  friend,  the  most  zealous  supporter  of 
the  episcopal  claims  ever  known  in  New  England. 
Mr.  Beach  was  a  very  sensible  and  evangelical 
preacher.  Among  other  sermons  he  printed,  is  one 
upon  **  the  inquiry  o^  t\it  young  fuan  in  the  gospeL'' 
His  controversial  pieces  are^ — '••  A  vindication  of  the 
professors  of  the  church  of  Lngland  against  the 
abusive  and  fallacious  argumentations  of  Mr,  Noah 
Hobart,  1750.  To  this  Mr.  B.  replied  in  a  second 
address  to  the  members  of  the  episcopal  separation^ 
h.c.  Mr.  Beach  then  published  a  continuation  of 
the  calm  and  dispassionate  vindication  of  the  profes- 
sors of  the  church  of  England,  &,c.  1756. 

The  dissenters   were  ready  to  acknowledge  Mr. 


52  BEL 

Beach  to  be  the  most  able  of  the  episcopal  wniersi 
who  engaged  in  the  controversy  with  Mr  Hobartj- 
but  against  such  a  disputant^  their  church  could  not 
gain  the  ground  they  expected  :  his  addresses 
were  read  with  interest  and  high  estimation  by  men 
of  all  denominations.  In  England  Mr.  Hobait  was 
called  the  very  ablest  controversial  writer  New  En- 
gland had  to  boast  of.  C handler's  iije  of  president 
Johnson,     Mr,  Ho  I  I  is' s  letters. 

Belcher  Andriw,  one  of  his  majesty's  council 
for  the  province  of  Massachusetts,  and  father  of 
gov.  Belcher,  was  himself  one  of  the  famous  men  in 
those  times.  He  is  called  "  an  ornament  and  bless- 
ing to  his  country."  He  was  the  most  opulent 
merchant  in  the  town  of  Boston  ;  a  man  of  integri^ 
ty  and  honour  ;  a  friend  to  religion  and  learning. 
He  died,  October  31,  1728,  aged  71. 

Belcher  Jonathan,  governor  of  Massachu- 
setts and  New  Jersey,  was  born  in  Boston,  1681. 
His  father  was  desirous  he  should  have  the  best 
education  the  country  afforded,  and  then  to  travel 
over  Europe.  It  was  a  great  pleasure  to  have  a  son 
of  so  promising  a  genius,  upon  whom  the  hopes  of 
the  family  depended.  The  youth  was  an  excellent 
scholar,  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1699.  The  class  which  he  was  a  member  consist- 
ed of  twelve  ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the 
four  first  were  as  distinguished  characters,  as  New- 
England  has  produced.*  Three  held  the  highest  of- 
fices of  their  country  ;  and  the  fourth  w^as  a  divine 
who  would  have  been  an  honour  to  any  age  or  nation. 

Mr.  Belcher  did  not  incline  to  enter  upon  pro- 
fessional studies,  but  went  into  the  mercantile  line 
of  business.  To  increase  his  commercial  corres* 
pondence,  as  well  as  to  expand  his  mind,  he  spent 
several  years  in  Great  Britain,  and  upon  the  conti- 
nent, and  gained  testimonies  of  esteem  from  some 
of  the  greatest  and  best  characters.     He  was  intro- 

•  Jeremiah  Dummer,  J.  Belclier,  Edmund  Quincy,  and  John 
Buckley. 


BEL  5S 

duced  to  the  princess  Sophia,  and  became  acquaint- 
ed with  her  son  the  elector  of  Hanover,  who  was  af- 
terwards king  of  Kngland.  When  he  returned  to 
Boston  he  enlarged  his  business  as  a  merchant,  and 
became  a  candidate  for  publick  honours.  From  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  legislature  for  his  native  town, 
he  was  chosen  one  of  his  majesty's  council,  where 
he  was  very  respectable  for  his  knowledge  of  man- 
kind, his  zeal  and  activity  in  serving  the  interest  of 
the  province.  In  the  year  1728,  he  was  chosen 
agent  at  the  court  of  Great  Britain.  The  circum- 
stances of  this  election,  as  related  by  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son, are  not  so  favourable  to  him,  but  ought  to  be 
mentioned  in  a  biographical  sketch,  where  we  look 
not  for  eulogy,  but  the  just  traits  of  every  man's 
character.  Mr.  Belcher  had  been  closely  attached 
to  gov.  Shute,  and  to  his  measures,  the  same  that 
Burnet  pursued  ;  but  he  suddenly  went  over  to  the 
other  party,  and  *'  was  thought  the  most  proper  per- 
son to  join  with  Mr.  Wilks,  who  had  been  very 
friendly  to  Mr.  Cooke  in  his  agency,  and  upon  sever- 
al occasions  had  interested  himself  in  favour  o^  New 
England^  and  had  tiicrefore  been  the  first  object  of 
their  choice."  They  jomtly  represented  the  state 
of  the  province,  shewing  *'  the  people  were  averse 
to  a  compliance  with  the  instructions  given  to  gov. 
Burnet,  which  he  had  communicated  to  the  house.'* 
The  result  of  their  petition  is  well  known. 

Two  years  after  he  was  appointed  agent  for  the 
people,  he  had  a  commission  from  the  crown  to  be 
their  governor,  and  he  possessed  some  admirable 
qualities  for  the  station.  His  fine  person,  engaging 
address,  urbanity  of  manners,  and  splendid  mode  of 
living,  made  him  the  most  popular  man  in  Massa- 
chusetts. The  part  he  had  lately  acted  fixed  an 
opinion,  that  he  would  not  perplex  the  legislature 
with  those  instructions  which  had  produced  such 
contests  w  ith  his  predecessors  When  the  news  of 
his  appointment  reached  New  England,  all  classes 
of  people  rejoiced,   especially  those  who  had  been 


M  BEL 

in  opposition  to  Shute  and  Burnet :  but  as  soon  as 
they  learned  that  similar  instructions  were  given, 
and  that  no  change  of  measures  would  follow  from 
having  such  a  man  in  the  chair,  most  of  these  popu- 
lar leaders  became  his  active  enemies  He  arrived 
at  Boston,  August,  1730.  New  Hampshire  was 
included  in  his  commission.  At  the  first  meeting 
of  the  general  court,  he  proposed  to  have  his  salary- 
fixed  acccording  to  the  instructions  he  had  receiv- 
ed. This  did  not  occasion  any  altercation  at  first ; 
but  when  he  rettised  his  assent  to  a  bill  passed  for 
his  support,  he  found  them  unmoved  by  his  persua- 
sions, and  determined  to  support  the  views  of  for- 
mer legislatures.  He  endeavoured  to  persuade  the 
house  of  representatives  to  send  word  to  their 
agents  in  England,  that  he  might  be  permitted  to 
receive  the  grants,  which  being  obtained,  it  put 
an  end  to  the  controversy. 

There  were  three  events,  however  in  the  rdmin- 
istration  of  gov.  Belcher  which  excited  an  opposi- 
tion to  him,  and.in  the  end  caused  his  removal  from 
the  government.  In  1733,  upon  application  from 
the  court  for  a  new  emission  of  paper  bills,  when  a 
very  large  nominal  amount  was  in  circulation,  he 
refused  his  consent ;  and  urged  that  the  old  emis- 
sions should  be  first  redeemed.  This  gave  ofiencc 
to  the  party  whose  views  were  to  be  answered  by 
the  new  emission. 

It  seems  that  merchants^  notesh2id  been  issued  by 
a  confederacy  of  merchants,  who  had  formed  them- 
selves into  a  company,  and  these  notes  were  to  be 
redeemed  at  a  certahi  rate  of  silver  per  ounce.  The 
excess  of  the  public  bills  made  silver  rise  ;  and  in 
consequence  of  it,  the  notes  were  hoarded  up. 

Another  thing,  which  occasioned  great  uneasi- 
ness to  the  governor  was,  the  dispute  between  Mas- 
sachusetts and  New-Hampshire,  relative  to  their 
respective  boundaries.  Ihis  came  under  conside- 
ration of  commissioners  appointed  by  the  crown. 
The  conduct  of  the  governor  towards  New-Hamp" 


BEL  5B 

shire  was  not  pleasing  to  the  leading  characters  of 
that  province  ;  and  they  solicited  a  government  of 
their  own,  distinct  from  Massachusetts. 

A  third  event,  which  happened,  while  Mr.  Bel- 
cher was  in  the  chair,  was  the  bringing  forward  a 
Land  Bank,  or  scheme  of  Manufactory.  This  was 
not  an  act  of  the  government  ;  but  a  large  majority 
of  the  court,  and  some  eminent  lawyers  of  Boston, 
favoured  it,  and  many  were  subscribers  to  it. 
The  governor's  opposition  to  it,  and  his  ex- 
ertions to  suppress  it,  which  were  successful, 
brought  upon  him  the  ill  will  of  a  great  part  of  the 
people.  Some  of  the  politicians  of  those  days  took 
methods  to  injure  him, which  would  astonish  those, 
who  are  not  much  conversant  with  human  artifice 
and  deception.  The  Land  Bank  was  suchanabomina^ 
ble  kind  of  speculation,  that  honest  men  in  England 
as  well  as  America,  spoke  of  ic  with  disgust.  The 
enemies  of  the  governor  represented  him  to  be  the 
greatest  friend  to  this  scheme,  which  they  knew  he 
abhorred  ;  but  there  v/as  no  bearing  up  against  the 
poison  of  the  slander.  After  he  had  fallen  a  victim 
to  it,  the  truth  was  clearly  manifested. 

He  received  another  commission,  as  governor 
of  Nev/  Jersey,  and  he  rendered  such  useful  servic- 
es to  that  state,  that  they  now  speak  of  him  with 
admiration  and  love,  aud  his  name  will  be  had  in 
everlasting  remembrance.  There  he  passed  the 
evening  of  his  life,  and  the  scene  around  him  was 
gilded  with  calm  and  pure  lustre.  Peaceable  days 
succeeded  a  troublesome  season,  and  he  had  an  op- 
portunity to  do  immense  service  in  promoting  the 
cause  of  religion  and  learning.        ^3 

He  was  the  friend  and  patron  of  the  college  at 
Princetown.  Under  his  fostering  care  it  grew  and 
flourished, and  became  a  rich  and  extensive  blessing 
to  the  community. 

He  lived  to  the  age  ot  76,and  died  Aug.  31,  1757a 
No  governor  ever  died  more  sincerely  lamented. 
A  funeral  sermon  was  preached  upon  the  occasion 


56  BEL 

by  president  Burr,  who  in  a  few  days  followed  his 
friend  to  the  silent  tomb.  The  discourse  was  pub- 
lished without  the  corrections  of  the  author,  but  is 
a  suitable  testimony  of  respect  to  a  magistrate, 
whose  energies  and  virtues  gave  him  celebrity  a- 
mong  the  best  characters. 

Gov.  B.  never  lost  his  attachment  to  his  native 
soil,  or  the  place  of  his  education.  He  left  a  request 
to  have  a  monument  erected  in  the  burial  ground 
at  Cambridge,  with  a  particular  order  for  defraying; 
the  expence.  By  some  neglect  it  was  never  finish^ 
ed.  It  is  true  of  certain  gentlemen,  that  they  inher- 
it the  fortune  without  the  spirit  and  industry  of 
their  ancestors.  And  his  eldest  son  did  not  follow 
liis  steps. 

In  writing  an  account  of  gov.  B.  the  religious 
part  of  his  character  ought  not  to  be  omitted.  He 
was  truly  pious,  though  he  might  be  inclining  to 
enthusiasm.  The  wits  of  Massachusetts  made 
sport  of  this,  and  suggested  that  he  appeared  to 
greater  advantage  in  \Vhit(  field's  journal  than  in 
our  political  annals.  He  did  not  want,  however,  the 
sagacity  ot  a  statesman,  and  was  a  man  of  uncom- 
mon industry  ;  he  was  as  strict  in  his  morals,  as 
pious  in  his  walk  and  conversation.  It  is  a  no- 
ble kind  of  enthusiasm  which  leads  a  man  to  pro- 
mote every  literary  and  religious  institution,  and 
to  do  all  the  good  in  his  power. 

That  gov  B.  loved  his  country,  all  were  ready  to 
allow.  That  he  had  New  England  prejudices,  es- 
pecially in  favour  of  the  churches,  is  readily  grant- 
ed ;  and  it  is  as  evident  that,  under  his  administra- 
tion, the  province  enjoyed  as  much  peace  and  pros^ 
perity,  as  in  the  same  number  of  years  during  that 
century. 

The  strength  of  intellect  which  marked  the  cha= 
racter  and  proceedings  of  Burnet ;  that  extensive 
knowledge  of  law  and  government,  and  readiness  to 
dispute  with  a  host  of  representatives,  were  not  so 
liberally  granted  to  his  successor.      Mr.  heicher 


BEL  s; 

had  only  an  American  education,  but  his  talents 
were  above  mediocrity,  and  he  exercised  them  in  a 
manner  which  secured  reputation,  esteem  and  re- 
spect. He  feh  the  lashes  of  satire  from  his  oppo- 
nents, who  were  witty  and  severe  in  their  remarks  ; 
but  he  had  the  support  of  his  integrity  ;  he  possess- 
ed  a  noble,  generous  disposition  ;  and  might  make 
a  demand  upon  the  gratitude  of  his  country  for  the 
sacrifice  of  a  large  property  to  serve  its  best  inter- 
est. 

Gov.  Belcher  left  two  sons,  who  were  educated 
at  Harvard  College,  and  made  some  figure  in  life. 
Andrew,  the  eldest,  was  graduated,  1724.  He 
held  several  publick  offices,  and  was  one  of  his  ma- 
jesty's council.  He  possessed  a  handsome  proper- 
ty, without  much  patriotick  zeal,  or  literary  taste. 
He  died  before  the  revolutionary  war.*  Hutch. 
Hist,  vol,  II.     Evening  Post,   1740. 

Jonathan  Belcher,  chief  justice  of  Nova  Sco- 
tia, was  also  the  son  of  gov.  Belcher  ;  was  educated 
at  Harvard  College,  and  received  the  honours  of 
of  that  seminary,  1728.  He  had  also  a  degree  of 
master  of  arts  from  the  university  of  Cambridge, 
and  from  Dublin.  He  applied  himself  to  the  study 
of  law,  and  went  to  Qiebucto  among  the  first  set- 
tlers. The  spot  received  the  name  of  Halifax  in 
honour  of  one  of  his  majesty's  principal  secretaries 
of  state.  Mr.  Belcher  was  one  of  their  magistrates, 
and  rose  to  be  chief  justice  of  the  province,  and  for 
some  years  was  lieut.  governor.  He  was  a  man  of 
excellent  habits,  prudent,  upright,  of  great  political 

•  His  seat  at  Milton  was  consumed,  1776,  in  the  night,  by  an 
accident.  His  widow,  with  the  old  lady,  gov.  Belcher's  widow^ 
who  resided  with  her,  hardly  escaped  the  flames.  They  were 
carried  into  the  barn,  put  into  the  family  coach,  and  forgotten 
till  all  was  over.  The  barn  was  near  the  house  but  was  preserv- 
ed, there  being  little  or  no  wind  stirring.  The  writer  of  this  ar- 
ticle recollects  taking  tea  with  the  ladies  in  this  barn,  which  was 
fitted  up  for  a  temporary  reception.  They  conversed  with  cheer- 
fulness upon  the  fiublick  changes,  and  the  changes  in  their  own 
circumstance*, 

I 


58  BEL 

integrity.  His  prejudices  were  much  in  favour  oi 
New  England,  which,  in  a  measure,  lessened  that 
respect  which  the  subjects  of  his  British  majesty 
were,  otherwise,  disposed  to  pay  him  during  the 
revolutionary  war. 

His  name  and  character,  however,  are  held  in  no 
small  reputation  by  the  people  of  the  present  .gene- 
ration. 

Belknap  Jeremy,  D.  D.  holds  a  distinguished 
place  among  the  literary  men  ot  this  country.  His 
publications  are  as  much  read,  and  as  likely  to  at- 
tract further  notice,  as  any  books  of  the  kind.  They 
have  certainly  excited  a  grateful  esteem  for  the  au- 
thor. 

He  was  born  in  Boston,  June  4,  1744,  and  had 
the  rudiments  of  his  education  under  the  care  of 
the  celebrated  Lovel,  who  has  been  styled  the 
Busby  of  New  England. 

He  early  discovered  the  marks  of  genius,  and  en- 
tered Harvard  College  in  1758.  His  mind  was 
there  cultivated  with  care ;  he  made  considerable 
progress  in  classical  literature,  and  was  master  of  a 
great  variety  of  knowledge,  before  he  took  his  first 
degree.  At  the  commencement,  A.  D.  1762,  he 
received  the  honours  of  the  college.  From  this 
time,  till  he  became  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  he  ap- 
plied himself  closely  to  his  studies,  and  discovered 
such  talents  for  composition,  so  much  taste  and 
sentiment,  that  several  of  the  best  scholars  among 
the  clergy  predicted  his  future  excellence.  Some 
part  of  this  time  he  employed  in  instructing  youth  ; 
and  amidst  other  pursuits,  he  wrote  several  fugitive 
pieces,  which  were  not  known  to  be  his,  but  were 
read  with  pleasure,  as  effusions  of  a  lertile  fluicy,  or 
the  labours  of  a  student,  who  had  more  than  com- 
mon parts  and  learning. 

Whilst  Mr.  Belknap  indulged  himself  in  philo- 
logical inquiries,  and  studied  various  branches  of 
science,  he  had  ver}^  serious  impressions  of  divine 
truth  ;  and  the  more  he  turned  his  thoughts  to  thcr 


i» 


BEL  59 

oology,  the  more  he  was  captivated  with  the  beauties 
of  religion.  He  no  sooner  became  a  preacher  than 
his  praise  was  in  the  churches.  His  sermons  were 
excellent  ;  and  his  grave  manner,  just  emphasis, 
and  distinct  articulation,  were  more  striking  to 
well-informed  hearers,  than  those  graces  of  elocu- 
tion, which  render  some  preachers  popular,  or 
which  make  the  fanatical  multitude  admire.  He 
was  ordained  at  Dover,  New- Hampshire,  when  he 
was  a  young  man.  There  he  passed  several  years 
of  his  valuable  life,  with  the  esteem  and  affection  of 
his  flock  ;  in  habits  of  intimacy  with  ministers  and 
other  gentlemen  of  the  neighbouring  places,  all  of 
whom  regretted  his  departure  from  the  state.  He 
received  marks  of  attention  and  respect  from  the 
first  characters  of  the  community,  who  persuaded 
and  encouraged  him  to  compile  a  history,  which 
does  much  honour  to  our  country,  and  which  has 
given  tht  author  a  name  and  distinction  among  the 
first  literary  characters  of  the  age. 

The  only  publications  which  appear  with  the 
name  of  Dr.  Belknap,  while  he  was  a  minister  in 
New  Hampshire,  beside  the  first  volume  of  his  His- 
tory, are — a  sermon  upon  military  duty,  dedicated 
to  sir  John  Wentvvorth,  then  governor  of  the  pro- 
vince ;  a  sermon  preached  before  an  association  of 
ministers,  which  has  since  been  reprinted  by  the 
society  for  propagating  the  gospel,  &c.  and  the 
election  sermon,  in  the  year  1785. 

He  wrote  other  pamphlets,  and  several  political 
speculations  in  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette,  upon 
the  controversy  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Col- 
onies. He  also  wrote  in  the  Boston  newspapers, 
against  the  African  slavery.  An  ingenious  young 
man  in  this  town,  at  the  desire  of  a  West  India  mer- 
chant, had  written  in  -favour  of  the  African  trade, 
using  all  the  arguments  which  can  be  gathered  for 
the  lawfulness  of  slavery,  from  the  scriptures  and 
the  practice  of  nations.  He  took  the  signature  of 
John  Mar  shanty  and  seemed  to  court  the  contro- 


60  BEL 

versy,  as  one  able  to  maintain  his  ground  and  con- 
fute his  opponents.  These  essays  being  published 
in  the  newspapers,  were  answered  through  the  same 
channel,  by  several  able  and  ingenious  hands. 
Among  the  best  pieces  were  those  which  proceed- 
ed from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Belknap.  When  the  Co- 
lumbian Magazine  was  published  in  Philadelphia, 
he  was  solicited  to  become  a  writer  ;  and  in  that 
work  may  be  seen  the  first  sketches  of  the  Ameri- 
can Biography. 

Dr.  Belknap  removed  to  Boston,  A.  D.  1787. 
The  church  in  Federal-street,  which  had  been  es- 
tablished upon  the  Presbyterian  model,  had  agreed 
to  form  themselves  upon  Congregational  principles^ 
and  they  invited  him  to  be  their  pastor.  Nothing 
could  have  been  more  agreeable  to  the  ministers 
and  people  of  the  other  churchcSj  and  to  all  who  re- 
garded the  interests  of  the  university  at  Cambridge, 
with  which  he  became  officially  connected  ;  being 
fully  confident  that  he  would  be  a  great  instrument 
in  promoting  the  cause  of  religion  and  learning. 
As  an  overseer  of  the  college,  he  was  attentive  to 
the  concerns  of  the  institution  ;  always  taking  a 
lively  interest  in  every  thing  that  respected  its  wel- 
fare. During  the  eleven  years  of  his  ministry  in 
this  town,  the  religious  society  with  which  he  Was 
connected  grew  and  flourislied.  The  attachment 
was  strong  and  mutual.  While  they  admired  his 
diligence  and  fidelity,  he  received  from  them  every 
testimony  oF  respect,  which  marks  the  character 
of  a  kind  and  obliging  people.  He  was  very  ac- 
tive in  encouraging  those  books,  which  are  design- 
ed  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  children ;  for  he  was 
their  sincere  and  affectionate  friend  ;  and  very  affa- 
ble and  kind  with  all  classes  of  people.  He  gave 
advice  with  cheertulness,  and  with  an  attention  to 
the  concerns  of  his  acquaintance,  which  invited 
their  confidence. 

The  friends  of  Dr.  Belknap  were  numerous. 
He  became  a  member  of  many  literary  and  benevo- 


BEL  61 

lent  societies  ;  and  he  was  active  in  promoting  the 
good  of  every  association  to  which  he  belonged. 
Wherever  he  could  be  of  service,  he  freely  devoted 
his  time  and  talents. 

Of  the  Historical  Society  he  w^as  not  only  a  dili- 
gent and  laborious  member,  but  may  be  consider- 
ed  as  the  founder.  While  he  was  in  New-Hamp- 
shire, he  collected  a  great  number  of  facts,  dates 
and  circumstances,  and  most  valuable  compilation 
of  manuscripts,  which  might  give  information  and 
entertainment  to  persons  who  desire  to  know  the 
history  of  their  own  country.  The  letters  which 
passed  between  the  admiral  and  general  at  Louis- 
berg  had  been  copied  in  a  fair  hand,  to  serve  for  a 
document  of  historick  information.  Col.  Sparhawk, 
who  married  the  daughter  of  Sir  William  Pepperell, 
not  only  obliged  Dr.  Belknap  with  the  perusal  of 
them,  when  he  was  writing  the  history  of  New- 
Hampshire,  but  expressed  a  desire  that  he  would 
deposite  them  in  some  cabinet,  where  they  might 
be  read  by  others,  and  be  useful  in  future.  This 
idea  led  Dr.  Belknap  to  devise  a  plan  for  multiply- 
ing copies  of  this  and  other  manuscripts,  as  the  on- 
ly way  to  preserve  them  from  fire  or  any  accidents. 
He  w^as  the  more  impressed  with  the  propriety  of 
this,  as  he  was  witness  to  the  destruction  of  Mr. 
Prince's  valuable  collection,  which  had  been  depos- 
ited in  the  steeple  of  the  Old-South  meeting-house. 
When  he  came  to  Boston,  he  suggested  this  to  sev- 
eral of  his  acquaintance.  In  this  town  he  met  with 
a  friend,  Mr.  Thomas  Walcut,  a  worthy  citizen, 
now  living,  who  had  conceived  the  same  idea  of 
multiplying  copies  of  old  books,  which  he  himself 
had  of  manuscripts,  and  who  had  made  a  great  col- 
lection to  keep  them  for  the  service  of  future  gene- 
rations. Dr.  Belknap  often  mentioned  to  the  wri- 
ter  of  this  memoir,  that  what  Mr.  Walcut  suggest- 
^ed,  of  preserving  books,  and  his  own  desire  to  pre- 
serve the  letters  of  Sir  William  Pepperell,  were  the 
foundation  of  the  Historical  Society  :  an  institution 


# 


«2  BEL 

at  first  supported  by  the  labours  of  a  few,  not  suffi- 
ciently  favoured  by  the  publick  ;  but  now  claims  a 
very  considerable  reputation  among  the  literary  in- 
stitutions of  America. 

As  an  author,  Dr.  Belknap  appears  with  great 
reputation.  No  one  has  been  more  justly  celebrat- 
ed on  this  side  the  Atlantick.  'I  he  history  of 
JS/ew- Hampshire  is  full  of  good  information,  well 
arranged,  and  written  in  a  very  handsome  style." 
The  Foresters^  a  work  which  mingles  wit  and  hu- 
mour with  a  representation  of  the  manners  of  the 
American  people,  he  wrote  in  his  leisure  hours.  It 
has  passed  through  a  second  edition.  The  American 
Biography  is  a  monument  of  his  talents,  his  indus- 
try,  and  his  knowledge.  He  lived  to  publish  one 
volume,  and  to  prepare  another,  which  has  been 
printed  since  his  death  ;  and  it  has  been  well  ob- 
served, that  this  event  put  a  stop  to  the  progress  of 
a  useful  and  interesting  work,  for  which  the  pub- 
lick  voice  pronounced  him  peculiarly  qualified,  and 
which  the  world  of  letters  hoped  he  might  extend 
through  the  successive  periods  of  his  country's  his- 
tory. 

Other  publications  of  Dr.  Belknap  did  much 
t:redit  to  his  character,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel ; 
but  it  is  as  a  historian,  biographer,  and  promoter  of 
general  knowledge,  that  he  holds  so  distinguished 
a  place  among  eminent  characters.  As  a  theolo- 
gian, he  had  his  equals  ;  and  though  his  sermons 
were  well  composed,  and  filled  with  useful  observa- 
tions,  yet  we  have  been  used  to  read  such  discours- 
es ever  since  the  American  wilderness  has  been  cul- 
tivated by  pious  hands,  or  become  a  part  of  the 
Lord's  vineyard.  But  very  few  have  excelled  as 
fme  writers,  historians,  philosophers,  poets,  like  the 
scholars  of  the  European  schools.  We  have  been 
led,  therefore,  to  set  no  small  value  upon  the  lives 
of  such  men  as  Dr.  Belknap  and  the  late  Judge  Mi- 
not,  who  would  have  been  eminent  in  any  literary 
society  ;  men,  who  wrote  not  so  much  for  the  love 


BEL  63. 

of  fame,  as  a  desire  of  being  useful  ;  yet  who  gain- 
ed a  celebrity  of  character,  and  will  be  held  in  ever- 
lasting remembrance. 

Dr.  Belknap  w^as  subject  to  paralytick  complaints, 
some  years  before  he  died.  These  he  considered 
as  indications  of  a  speedy  dissolution.  He  died 
suddenly  with  a  return  ot  this  disorder,  in  June, 
1798. 

Bellamont  earl  of,  arrived  at  Boston  26th  of 
May,  1699,  being  appointed  to  the  government 
of  "Sqw  York  and  Massachusetts  Bay.  He  was  in 
the  chair  fourteen  months,  and  by  the  urbanity  of 
his  manners,  and  his  obliging  disposition,  he  render- 
ed himself  as  amiable  in  private  life,  as  he  was,  in 
his  station,  the  object  of  publick  esteem.  The  gen- 
eral court  made  him  grants,  for  his  services,  while 
he  remained  in  this  province,  to  the  value  of  1875 
pounds  sterling,  a  much  larger  sum  than  his  pre- 
decessor, or  any  of  his  successors  obtained.  Dur- 
ing his  administration,  harmony  subsisted  among 
all  branches  of  the  legislature  ;  for  he  knew  how  to 
secure  the  friends  of  Mr.  Cook,  and  the  enemies  of 
Dudley.  He  died  at  New  York,  ten  months  after 
he  had  left  Massachusetts,  March  5th,  1701. 

Bellamy  Joseph,  D.  D.  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated divines  of  New  England,  was  born  in  the 
county  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  He  was 
graduated  at  Yale  College,  i735,  being  then  six- 
teen years  old.  When  he  was  eighteen  he  became 
a  preacher.  He  Avas  ordained  at  Bethlehem  in  1740, 
then  an  obscure  village,  but  such  a  retired  situation 
as  would  suit  a  person  devoted  to  his  studies.  In 
1742,  his  zeal  blazed  in  the  cause  of  the  great  re- 
vival of  religion,  and  he  could  not  be  confined  to 
one  spot  of  the  vineyard,  but  went  from  place  to 
place  to  encourage  the  work.  He  preached  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  Connecticut,  Massachusetts  and  New 
York,  every  day  ;  and  several  times  a  day  as  occa- 
sions offered.  Those  ministers  who  were  blessed 
with  a  good  voice,  an  easy  utterance,  a  sensibility 


a|  BEL 

that  would  glow,  and  a  zeal  that  would  burn,  were 
sure  of  crouded  audiiorics  ;  and  were  followed,  by 
multitudes,  for  private  instruction.  Mr  Bellamy, 
with  many  others,  indulged  lively  hopes  of  success  ; 
and  were  ready  to  think  the  day  of  glory  dawned 
upon  a  dark  and  deluded  world.  But  the  prospect 
was  soon  clouded,  and  all  their  expectations  were 
frustrated.  *'  Many  ignorant  and  vain  pretenders 
to  uncommon  attainments  in  religion,  set  up  for 
publick  teachers ;  divisions  and  separations  were 
multiplied  ;  the  religious  awakenings  declined  fast ; 
the  enemy  triumphed  ;  and  the  friends  of  Zion 
mourned."  Satan  upon  this  occasion  acted  a  dou- 
ble, as  well  as  wicked  part,  according  to  the  senti- 
ments of  a  pious  writer,  from  whom  the  sentence 
above  is  quoted.  He  first  *'  attempted  to  put  a  stop 
to  this  good  work  by  open  opposition,  and  at  length 
transformed  himself  into  an  angel  of  light.  This 
produced  a  ftood  of  enthusiasm  and  false  religion, 
under  various  names.'''  Mr.  B.  soon  retuned  to  his 
stated  labours  at  Bethlehem,  finding  that  he  could 
not  be  useful  as  an  itinerant ;  and  applied  his  mind 
to  writing  a  book^  which  he  called  "  true  religion 
delineated,"  which  was  much  read,  passed  through 
several  editions,  and  certainly  marks  the  writer  as  a 
man  of  very  discriminating  judgaient,  and  high  the- 
ological attainments.  The  first  edition  was  printed 
in  Boston,   1750. 

In  his  sentiments,  he  was  a  supralapsarian  Calvin- 
ist,  one  of  the  first  and  most  eminent  divines  of  the 
sect,  called  frequently  Kdwardians,  Hopkintonians, 
and  in  some  places  by  his  own  name.  Wherein 
they  differ  from  the  old  Calvinists,  is  not  the  place 
of  a  biographer  to  point  out,  but  the  subject  is  dis- 
cussed in  the  histories  of  our  churches,  and  con- 
troversies which  have  arisen  from  Dr.  Bellamy's 
writings. 

besides  "  true  religion  delineated,"  he  wrotft 
^'  dialogues  on  Theron  and  Aspasio,  by  Paulinus,'' 
^*  sermons  on  the  divinitv  of  Christ,"    '^  the  miller. 


BEL  65 

inium,  and  the  wisdom  of  God  in  the  permission  of 
sin,"  **  essay  on  the  gospel,"  *'  the  great  evil  of 
sin,"  *'  the  hiw  our  schoolmaster,"  *'  early  piety  re- 
commended;" these  were  single  sermons. 

He  also  published  several  pieces  on  **  creeds  and 
confessions;  on  the  *'  covenant  of  grace  ;"  and  on 
*' church  covenanting." 

Mr.  Bellamy  was  fond  of  preaching  upon  doctri^ 
nal  subjects,  and  diffusing  the  peculiarities  of  his 
own  belief.  His  manner  of  preaching  was  grave, 
solemn  and  impressive.  He  had  not  a  melodious 
voice,  but  it  was  strong  and  manly.  When  he  was 
a  young  man  he  was  doubtless  very  popular,  which 
was  not  the  case  in  his  declining  years,  owing  either 
to  less  concern  upon  people's  mhid  about  religion, 
or  to  his  own  failure  in  delivery.  He  was  frequent- 
ly heard  to  mark  the  difference  of  times  and  man- 
ners, when  the  aged  rose  up  before  him,  and  when 
the  rising  generation  would  pay  little  respect  to  his 
grey  hairs.  Serious  people  always  regarded  him, 
especially  men  of  speculative  inquiry.  Many  had 
profited  by  his  works,  and  among  the  ministers  of 
Connecticut,  who  have  a  high  reputation  in  their 
profession,  several  received  their  education  from 
him.  He  kept  a  school  for  theological  students  at 
his  house  after  they  had  passed  their  college  exer- 
cises, and  entered  upon  the  study  or  profession  of 
divinity. 

Among  the  correspondents  of  Dr.  Bellamy,  was 
Dr.  John  Erskine,  of  Edinburgh,  a  man  who  has 
done  much  honour  to  the  cause  of  religion,  and 
given  of  his  abundance  to  pious  and  charitable  uses. 
This  gentleman  had  a  very  high  opinion  of  Mr. 
Bellamy's  talents  and  usefulness,  and  through  his 
influence,  a  diploma  from  Aberdeen  of  doctor  in 
divinity  was  presented  to  him  ;  w^hich  at  that  time 
must  have  been  honourable  as  a  distinction,  it  be- 
ing among  the  first  if  not  the  very  first  doctorate  in 
|he  colony.      But  it  was  still  more  honourable  to 

K 


66  BEL 

Mr.  Bellamy,   as  it  sjave  satisfaction  to  the  friends, 
of  learning  and  religion. 

It  would  be  wrong  if  no  particular  mention  were 
made  of  the  friendship  between  president  Edwards 
and  Dr.  Bellamy.  He  drank  deeply  of  his  spirit,  and 
though  not  so  profound  a  reasoner  as  that  great 
man,  in  metaphysical  researches,  who  may  be  just- 
ly called  the  Locke  of  America^  was  eminent  as  a 
logician  ;  and  an  able  divine.  Their  intimacy  con- 
tinued till  the  death  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Dr,  Bellamy  died,  March  6,  1790,  in  the  72d 
year  of  his  age,  and  50th  of  his  ministry.  Rei),  J\oah 
Benedict'' s  Juneral  sermon, 

Bellingham  Hichard,  governor  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  under  the  first  charter,  was  a  lawyer  of 
some  celebrity,  and  a  very  learned  man,  compared 
with  his  contemporaries  in  New  England.  He  ar- 
rived at  Boston,  1635,  and  was  chosen  lieut.  gov- 
ernor, Mr.  Haynes  being  the  same  year  introduced 
to  the  chair.  From  this  year,  he  was  chosen  a  ma- 
gistrate (Mr.  Winthrop  succeeding,  1636,  to  his 
place  as  lieut.  governor)  till  the  year  1641,  when 
he  was  elected  governor  by  a  majority  of  six  votes. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  province  who  lived  at  a  dis- 
ance  from  Boston  were  much  displeased  at  the  con- 
duct of  Bellingham's  friends,  and  when  the  general 
court  met,  it  was  voted  not  to  make  the  grant  of 
XlOO,  which  had  usually  been  made.  The  next 
year  gov.  Winthrop  resumed  the  place.  Mr.  Bel- 
lingham was  continued  a  magistrate  till  the  year 
16<^)6,  when  he  succeeded  gov.  hndicot. 

He  was  strongly  attached  to  the  freedom,  civil 
and  religious,  which  the  people  of  New  f.ngland 
enjoyed.  The  commissioners,  who  came  to  in- 
quire into  the  state  of  the  province  when  Charles 
11.  was  on  the  throne,  looked  upon  him,  therefore, 
with  a  jealous  eye.  By  their  representation,  he, 
with  four  other  gentlemen,  were  required  to  answer 
for  their  conduct  before  the  king.  The  ostensible 
reason  was,  that  they  were  best  able  to  give  a  tru^ 


B  E  R  67 

Account  of  the  province,  but  it  was  well  known  they 
were  odious  to  the  commissioners,  and  had  been  i^re- 
sented  to  the  court  of  Great  Britain  as  men  disaffect- 
ed to  his  majesty's  government.  It  seems  from  the 
history  of  those  times,  our  general  court  discover- 
ed some  political  craft  upon  the  occasion.  They 
pretended  to  be  of  a  doubtful  mind  concerning  the 
king's  letter.  But  if  it  were  genuine,  it  expressed 
only  a  desire  to  know  the  state  of  the  colony  ;  and 
every  thing  appertaining  to  publick  affl\irs,  or  their 
internal  state,  could  be  communicated  without 
sending  away  such  a  number  of  useful  magistrates. 
The  debates  of  the  house  became  very  earnest. 
Some  thought  it  necessary  to  obey  the  king's  order, 
others  said  it  would  be  injurious  to  their  privileges. 
The  measure  was  violently  opposed,  and  the  gen- 
tlemen never  left  New  England.  Mr.  BeUingham 
was  elected  governor  of  the  province  this  same 
year,  and  continued  in  the  chair  till  he  died,  which 
event  took  place,  Dec.  7,  1672.  As  a  man  he  was 
benevolent,  upright  and  active  in  business ;  as  a 
christian,  he  was  devout,  zealous,  attentive  to  ex- 
ternal forms  as  much  as  '*  to  the  hidden  man  of  the 
heart."  As  a  governor,  he  loved  the  people,  and 
maintained  the  honour  of  his  station.  He  leaned 
rather  to  the  democratick  side  of  politicks,  which 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  considering  the  arbitrary 
measures  of  the  court  when  he  left  England. 

By  his  will,  governor  BeUingham  left  his  large 
property  at  Rumney  Marsh  for  pious  and  charita- 
ble uses.  The  general  court  set  aside  the  will. 
Hutchinson'' s  History, 

Bernard  Francis,  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
was  descended  from  a  respectable  family,  educated 
in  the  university  of  Oxford,  and  was  a  proctor,  or 
solicitor  at  doctors  commons  when  chosen  to  suc- 
ceed governor  Belcher  as  governor  of  New  Jersey, 
in  1758.  He  was  removed  to  Massachusetts  in 
1760,  and  arrived  at  Boston  in  the  month  of  Au- 
gust,    The  commencement  of  his   administration 


68  B  ER 

was  favourable  ;  but  in  the  course  of  it  was  preg^ 
nant  with  evil  to  the  community.  In  his  first 
speech  to  the  general  court  he  says,  ''  my  duty  as 
the  king's  servant,  my  inclination  as  an  Englishman 
conspire  together  to  form  the  strongest  obligation^ 
that  I  should  be  most  careful  in  preserving  not  only 
your  general  rights,  but  also  those  particular  privi- 
leges which  have  been  granted  by  vour  charter.'* 
At  this  session  they  granted  ^'1300  as  his  salary  for 
the  current  year  ;  and  presented  him  with  an  island 
called  Mount  Desert,  the  title  to  which  was  after- 
wards confirmed  by  the  king.  'J  here  was  no  great 
subject  of  altercation  between  the  governor  and 
house  of  representatives,  until  the  peace  of  Paris  in 
1763.  It  was  a  period  of  glory  and  triumph  for  the 
British  nation  of  which  the  remote  parts  of  the  em- 
pire partook.  The  people  of  North  America  had 
made  great  exertions  in  the  common  cause,  and 
were  fully  sensible  of  it.  The  provincial  soldiers 
deserved  well  for  their  courage  and  activity ;  a 
pleasing  idea  was  indulged  of  lasting  harmony  and 
friendly  intercourse  between  the  parent  country  and 
her  colonies  ;  unfortunately  this  was  soon  disturb- 
ed, and  the  governor  of  Massachusetts  was  one  of 
the  instruments  in  bringing  on  such  political  de- 
bates as  caused  the  most  troublesome  animosities. 
He  was  always  obedient  to  the  mandates  of  a  minis- 
try,  unfriendly  to  the  interests  of  the  colonies  ;  and 
became  the  dupe  of  their  crafty  policy  and  ambi- 
tious designs.  In  1764  restraints  were  laid  upon 
the  trade  of  the  plantations  by  certain  acts  of  the 
parliament  of  Great  Britain  ;  which  were  succeeded 
by  a  direct  tax  upon  the  colonies.  Nothing  could 
have  given  greater  offence  to  the  people  on  this  side 
of  the  Atlantick,  than  the  stamp  act,  which  Mr. 
Grenville  introduced  into  the  house  of  commons 
towards  the  close  of  this  year.  It  is  true,  however^ 
that  before  the  stamp  duties  were  laid,  the  minister 
called  a  meeting  of  the  agents,  and  requested  them 
to  propose   any  other  tax   as  a  substitute  for  the 


BER  t| 

stamp  act,  to  which  he  affirmed  that  he  was  not 
particularly  attached  ;  but  they  remonstrated  against 
this,  and  every  kind  of  direct  tax  whatever,  as  a 
measure  to  which  the  colonists  would  never  sub- 
mit. When  it  was  known  in  America  that  such  an 
act  had  passed,  and  was  to  be  put  into  immediate 
operation,  it  arrested  the  attention  of  every  class  of 
people  ;  it  roused  a  spirit  of  resentment  which  me- 
naced every  man  in  power ;  and  alienated  the  af- 
fections of  the  colonists  from  a  country,  to  which 
they  had  hitherto  looked  with  reverence  as  the  land 
of  their  fathers  The  friends  of  prerogative  became 
peculiarly  obnoxious,  and  in  particular  the  crown 
governors.  It  was  natural  indeed  to  suppose  that 
if  the  agents  of  the  colonies  had  been  consulted, 
that  these  immediate  servants  of  the  government 
must  have  had  their  share  of  influence.  Bernard 
was  of  an  arbitrary  disposition,  and  had  always  been 
hostile  to  the  freedom  which  was  enjoyed  in  New 
England.  Upon  several  occasions  he  had  treated 
the  people  with  contempt ;  the  house  of  representa- 
tives with  arrogance,  and  even  the  council  with  dis- 
respect, though  several  of  this  body  were  his  friends 
and  favourites,  and  supported  his  measures,  when- 
ever they  could  do  it  without  risquing  the  highest 
resentment  of  their  constituents.  The  stamp  act 
was  repealed  in  1766;  this  was  a  cause  of  great 
joy  to  the  people  ;  but  the  wiser  statesmen  in  the 
plantations  were  still  dissatisfied,  for  the  very  ad- 
ministration which  had  repealed  this  obnoxious  act 
had  passed  another  declaratory  of  the  right  of  par- 
liament to  tax  all  parts  of  the  empire  ;  this  was  de- 
signed as  a  mere  declaration  and  a  salvo  for  the 
honour  of  parliament ;  but  another  ministry  were 
not  content  with  this.  It  was  said  to  be  necessary 
that  there  should  be  some  acknowledgment  or  acqui- 
escence at  least  on  the  part  of  America  to  this  effect, 
or  the  act  was  .nugatory  and  lifeless.  Charles  Town- 
send  was  employed  to  put  a  soul  into  it,  which  he 
did  by  bringing  forward  a  duty  upon  oil  and  co- 


70  B  ER 

lours,  upon  tea,  &c.  These  taxes  were  to  be  levi- 
ed in  the  colonies,  and  a  board  was  constituted  call* 
cd  the  commibsioners  of  the  customs  and  placed  in 
i3oston  :  Charles  Paxton,  a  most  odious  creature  of 
government,  was  one  of  the  commissioners.  He 
wrote  to  Great  Britain  and  solicited  that  troops 
might  be  sent  over  for  their  protection.  The  gov- 
ernor also,  was  favourable  to  this  scheme.  Troops 
soon  after  arrived  in  1768  ;  this  afforded  a  subject 
of  controversy  between  the  governor  and  the  inhab- 
itants of  Boston,  about  providing  quarters  for  them. 
The  letters  which  he  wrote  to  criminate  the  town, 
discover  his  temper,  and  his  views.  These  were 
procured  by  the  generous  care  of  William  Bollan, 
esq,  through  whom  they  presented  their  defence, 
in  answer  to  the  slanderous  aspersions  of  the  gov- 
ernor, and  at  the  same  time  acknowledged  to  Mr. 
Bollan  the  grateful  sense  they  had  of  his  services. 

From  this  time  the  newspapers  were  filled  with 
sarcastick  remarks  upon  the  character  and  conduct 
of  gov.  B.  with  satirical  descriptions  of  his  domes- 
tick  habits,  and  with  essays  upon  law  and  govern- 
ment, in  opposition  to  sentiments  delivered  by  him. 
In  one  of  his  addresses  to  the  council,  he  com- 
plained of  a  piece  in  the  Boston  Gazette,  which 
ended  with  these  lines, 

*'  And  it  siicli  nitn  are  by  God  appointed, 
"  1  \)t  devil  may  he  the  Lord's  annointcd.*' 

Upon  which  the  council  resolved,  that  the  piece 
wa'j  scandalous  and  blasphemous  ;  which  stimulated 
the  writer  to  explain  himself  in  a  still  more  except 
tionable  manner. 

In  Feb.  1769,  the  house  of  representatives  sent 
a  circular  letter  to  the  other  American  colonies, 
which'  gave  great  offence  to  the  governor.  He  de- 
manded of  the  next  general  court  that  they  should 
rescind  the  vote  by  ^^hi^h  their  predecessors  had 
authorized  this  letter  to  be  sent ;  this  was  refused, 
but  17  members  out  of  109  voting  for  it. 

In  August,  following,  he  dissolved  the  general 


B  E  R  ^\ 

court,  finding  them  not  subservient  to  his  will. 
Upon  which,  votes  were  passed  in  most  of  the 
towns  in  the  province,  which  were  published  in  the 
newspapers,  declaring  him  a  traitor  and  an  enemy 
to  the  country. 

His  administration  had  now  become  so  odious, 
burdensome,  and  vexatious  ;  and  there  were  such 
constant  altercations  between  him  and  the  general 
court,  that  it  seemed  necessary  he  should  be  re- 
moved from  the  government.  A  petition  to  the 
kiuci;  was  forwarded,  to  request  this  might  be  done, 
but  it  had  no  effect.  He  was  in  high  favour  at  the 
court  of  Great  Britain,  where  his  administration  was 
the  subject  of  praise,  and  his  services  were  reward- 
ed with  a  title.  He  was  now  sir  Francis  Bernard, 
baronet  of  Nettleham,  in  Lir»colnshire.  He  soon 
after  obtained  leave  to  return  to  England,  and  in 
the  month  of  xVugust,  1769,  he  sailed  from  Boston 
in  the  Rippon  man  of  war  ;  and  never  returned  to 
the  province. 

Gov.  Bernard  left  but  few  friends  in  the  place, 
where  he  passed  ten  years  of  his  life.  He  was  not 
calculated  to  gain  the  affections  of  the  people  ;  and 
such  as  had  a  political  attachment  to  him,  soon 
lost  their  regard,  after  he  had  laid  down  his  au- 
thority. Such  men  never  have  those  friendships 
which  give  a  charm  to  social  life.  It  is  worthy  of 
remark,  that  those  of  his  own  household  were  of 
the  number  who  afforded  amusement,  by  furnishing 
the  most  ridiculous  representations  of  his  parsimo- 
ny, and  domestick  meanness.  There  were,  however, 
some  respectable  traits  in  his  character,  and  these 
ought  to  be  mentioned.  He  was  sober  and  tem- 
perate ;  had  fine  talents  for  conversation,  if  the  sub- 
ject pleased  him.  He  had  an  extensive  knowledge 
of  books,  and  memory  so  strong  as  to  be  able  to 
refer  to  particular  passages,  with  greater  facility 
than  most  men  of  erudition.  He  would  sometimes 
boast  that  he  could  repeat  the  whole  of  the  plays  of 
Shakespeare.  He  was  a  friend  to  literature,  and  in- 


72  B  L  A 

terested  himself  greatly  in  favour  of  Harvard  CoU 
lege,  when  Harvard  Hall  with  the  hbrary  and  philo- 
sophick  apparatus,  were  destroyed  by  fire.  After 
which,  he  presented  to  it  a  considerable  part  of  his 
own  private  library.  The  building  which  now  bears 
the  name  of  Harvard  is  a  specimen  of  his  taste  in 
architecture  ;  and  while  it  was  building,  he  would 
suffer  not  the  least  deviation,  from  his  plan,  to  be 
made.  He  was  a  believer  in  the  principles  of 
Christianity,  which  was  the  effect  of  study  as  well  as 
education,  and  was  regular  in  his  attendance  upon 
publick  worship;  attached  to  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, but  no  bigot.  When  he  resided  in  the  coun- 
try, he  seldom  rode  to  Boston  upon  the  sabbath, 
but  commonly  attended  service  at  the  nearest  con- 
gregational church,  which  was  in  Brookline,  though 
his  house  was  within  the  boundary  of  Roxbury. 
He  gave  also  as  a  reason  for  this  preference,  that  the 
preacher  in  Brookline  was  shorter  in  his  services 
than  most  puritanical  divines,  and  in  particular  than 
the  Roxbury  minister.  After  l\is  retihii  to  England 
he  printed  several  pamphlets,  chiefly  letters,  or  such 
as  had  the  form  of  letters,  to  men  in  power,  which 
contained  his  principles  of  law  and  policy  while  in 
America.  He  wrote  several  pieces  of  the  elegiac 
kind  in  greek  and  latin,  which  are  printed  in  a  col- 
lection  made  at  Cambridge  after  the  death  of  George 
II.  and  the  accession  of  the  present  monarch  to  the 
Briti^jh  throne.  The  collection  is  styled  "  Pietas  et 
Gratulatio,"  &c.  which  was  printed,  in  1761,  with  a 
dedication  to  the  king  from  the  pen  of  lieut.  gover- 
nor Hutchinson. 

Blackman  Adam,  was  a  minister  in  Derby- 
shire, but  came  to  New  England  with  the  early 
planters.  He  makes  one  of  the  first  class,  as  Dr. 
Mather  calls  them  ;  men  who  were  in  the  actual  ex- 
ercise of  their  ministry  when  they  left  England.  He 
was  settled  first  at  Guilford,  then  at  Stratford,  in 
Connecticut,  and  was  so  good  a  preacher,  that  the 
famous  Hooker  made  a  speech  of  this  kind,  **  If  he 


B  O  L  73 

might  have  his  choice,  he  would  live  and  die  under 
Mr.  Blackman's  ministry. 

The  epitaph  upon    Melancton  is  applied  to  him 
by  the  author  of  the  Magnalia.   Book  III.  page  95. 

("ill  niveus  loio  ici^nabat  ptxtoie  cuncior  ; 
Unum  cui  Coelum,  cura  l-.iborq  ;   fuit  : 
Num  Ro;<itus,  qua  sit  dictiis  ra'ione  Melancton  ? 
Scilicet   Fii.rinnin,  qua  ra'ionc  vocant 

BoLLAN  William,  agent  for  Massachusetts  at 
the  court  of  Great  Britain,  was  born  in  England  and 
came  over  to  Boston  with  Shirley,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed governor.  In  1743,  he  married  his  excel- 
lency's second  daughter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  25 
years.  She  was  a  most  amiable  and  accomplished 
lady.  Mr.  BoUan  was  a  lawyer  of  eminence  in  his 
profession,  and  was  advocate  general^  when  he  was 
chosen  agent  for  the  province,  and  sent  to  England 
to  solicit  the  reimbursement  of  the  charge  in  taking 
and  securing  Cape  Breton.  In  obtaining  this  he 
discovered  as  much  address  as  fidelity  ;  he  acted 
like  a  wise  man,  who  would  persevere  till  he  gained 
his  object.  When  the  other  agent  was  willing  to 
compromise  for  a  sum  which  would  redeem  the  bills 
at  their  depreciated  value,  he  set  the  matter  ill  a 
clear  light,  and  "  made  it  evident  that  the  deprecia- 
tion  of  the  bills  was  as  effectually  a  charge  borne  by 
the  people  as  if  the  same  prM])ortion  of  bills  had 
been  drawn  in  by  taxes  ;  and  refused  any  accom- 
modation without  the  full  value  of  the  bills  when  is-, 
sued  "^ 

Of  his  services  in  this  business,  and  in  all  affairs 
of  the  province,  the  people  were  fully  sensible,  but 
he  was  not  a  man  whom  the  general  court  of  Mas- 
sachusetts wished  to  keep  in  office.  His  relation 
to  Shirley,  his  belonging  to  the  episcopal  church, 
and  being  an  Englishman,  created  prejudices  in  the 


♦  Mr.  ap;ent  BoUan  arrived  in  Boston,  Sept.   19,   1740,  wilh 
653.000  ounces  of  silver  and  ten  tons  of  copper  :    which  makes 
175.000  pounds  sterling,  granted  for  reimbursement  of  the  Cape 
Breton  expedition.     Jndefiendent  yldvci'tiser. 
L 


74  B  O  L 

minds  of  many  in  the  house  of  representatives. 
These  were  the  men  who  opposed  Shirley,  a  man 
averbe  from  the  habits  of  New  Kngland,  and  who 
endeavoured  to  introduce  a  more  arbitrary  system 
of  government,  than  his  predecessors  conceived,  or 
the  body  of  the  people  would  submit  to.  They 
were  friends  to  Pownal,  who  professed  himself  a 
high  whig,  and  afterwards  became  the  pointed  ene- 
mies of  Bernard.  Mr.  Bollan  even  gained  so  much 
influence  as  to  be  sent  again  to  England  after  he  had 
returned  with  the  money-  Several  attempts  were 
made  to  displace  him  when  Shirley  left  the  province. 
His  services,  his  knowledge  of  provincial  business. 
his  faithfulness  had  been  a  security.  In  1762,  he 
was  dismissed,  and  Mr.  Mauduit  succeeded  him, 
a  wojthy  man,  but  whose  only  merit  to  raise  him 
to  this  station  was,  his  being  a  leading  character  of 
the  dissenters.  He  soon  resigned,  confessing  him- 
self unequal  to  the  business.  I'he  house  of  repre- 
sentatives chose  Richard  Jackson,  and  then  Mr. 
Debert ;  but  Mr.  Bollan  was  employed  by  the  coun- 
cil, and  in  this  capacity  continued  to  serve  the  pro* 
vince.  In  1768,  he  obtained  a  copy  of  the  letters 
written  against  the  tovvn  of  Boston  by  gov.  Ber- 
nard, gen.  Gage,  &c  and  from  this  time  he  became 
a  most  popular  man  amongst  those  who  once  could 
not  view  him  with  any  complacency.  Mr.  Hancock 
declared  in  the  house  of  representatives,  that  there 
was  no  man  to  whom  the  colonies  were  more  indebt- 
ed, ard  whose  friendship  had  been  more  sincere. 
In  1775,  he  was  active  in  promoting  the  interests, 
and  honour  of  the  mother  country  ;  by  seeking  for 
conciliatory  measures,  which  he  pressed  with  all  his 
influence,  and  much  care  and  concern.  We  hear 
nothing  of  his  publick  character  after  this  year,  and 
the  year  of  his  death  is  not  to  be  found  in  any  obit=. 
nary  of  our  American  newspapers.* 

•  His  printed  works  arc,  Tniportnnce  and  advantage  of  Cape 
Breton  uiily  stated.  London,  1746  ;  Coloniae  Ani^licanac  illustra- 
ise,  4to.  London,  1762  ;    Ancient  right  to  the  American  fishery 


B  O  W  75 

BowDOiN  James,  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
was  born  in  Boston,  1727.  His  father  rose  from 
common  life  to  an  eminence  among  the  merchants 
of  the  town,  and  was  supposed  to  leave  the  greatest 
estate  which  ever  had  been  owned  by  any  individu- 
al of  Massachusetts.  His  ancestors  were  French 
refugees,  who  left  their  country  after  the  revoca- 
tion of  the  edict  of  Nantz.  They  first  went  to  Ire- 
land, and  then  came  to  New- England,  1688. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  the  youngest 
son,  who,  discovering  some  proof  of  early  genius, 
was  sent  to  the  grammar  school  of  his  native  town, 
of  which  Mr.  Lovcl  was  preceptor.  He  finished 
his  education  at  Harvard  College,  where  he  was 
graduated,  1745.  He  very  soon  became  a  distin- 
guished character  among  the  citizens  of  Boston  ; 
was  chosen  a  representative  to  the  general  court, 
1756  ;  and  from  this  year  continued  in  publick  life 
till  the  year  1769,  when  he  was  negatived  by  gov. 
Bernard,  on  account  of  his  being  the  most  leading 
whig  at  the  council  board.  He  was,  the  next  year, 
sent  representative  from  Boston  ;  chosen  a  counsel- 
lor ;  and  accepted  by  Mr.  Hutchinson,  because  he 
thought  his  influence  less  prejudicial  "  in  the  house 
of  representatives,  than  at  the  council  board."  He 
was  one  of  the  committee  that  drew  the  answer  to 
the  goverour's  speeches  wliere  he  asserted  and  en- 
deavoured to  prove,  by  strong  arguments,  the  right 
of  Great  Britain  to  tax  America.  For  this  he  had 
the  honour  of  being  negatived  by  gov.  Gage,  in 
1774,  who  declared  that  *Mie  had  express  orders 
from  his  majesty  to  set  aside  from  that  board,  the 
hon.  Mr.  Bowdoin,  Mr.  Dexter,  and  Mr.  Win 
throp." 

During  this  memorable  year,  delegates  were 
chosen  to  meet  at  Philadelphia,  which  was  the  first 
congress  of  the  United  States.      Mr.  Bowdoin  was 

examined  and  stated,  4to.   London,    1764;    Freedom  of  speech 
-and  vvrilni<>^  upon  publick  affairs  considered,  4io.  London,  1770. 


76  BOW 

the  first  member  of  the  Massachusetts  delegation. 
He  was  prevented  from  attending  his   duty    by  his 
ill  state  of  health.        i\lr.    Hancock  was  afterwards 
chosen  in  his  place.        In  1775,  when  the  town    of 
Boston  was  blockaded,  Mr.  Bowdoin  was  modera- 
tor of  the  meeting,  when  the  inhabitants  agreed   to 
give  up  their  aims  to  gen.  Gage,  on  condition    of 
their  being   permitted  to  leave  the  place  with  their 
property,  and  without  disturbance.        In  this  busi- 
ness he  conducted   with  great  prudence  and  firm- 
ness,   and   was   one   of  the  first  who   went  out  of 
Boston  after  the  agreement.     It  is  well  known  how 
shametully   the  promises  of  the  British  command- 
ers were  violated.      Mr.  Bowdoin  took  his  place  as 
chief  of  the  Massachusetts  council  at   Watertown, 
and  was  of  the  Jijteen^  w  ho  by  the  charter  were   to 
act  m   die  room  of  the  governour,  when  the  office 
was  vacated*     In  1779 — 80,  the  convention  1  or  es- 
tablishhig  a    state    government  for  Massachusetts 
TTiet  at  Cambridge,  and  afterwards  at  Boston.      Of 
this  body,  Mr.  Bowdoin  was  president.       During 
the   years  of    1785  and    1786  he  was  governor  of 
the  state.       When  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  planned,  and  the  Massachusetts  conven- 
tion met  to  consider  whether  it  should  be  adopted, 
Mr.  Bowdoin  w  as  at  the  hti.d  of  the  Boston  delega- 
tion, ?\\  of  w  htjm  voted  in  favour  of  it.   He  made  a 
very  handsome  speech  upon  the  occasion,  which  may 
be  read  in  the  volume  of  their  debates.     From  this 
time,  he  changed  the  tumult  of  pubiick  scenes,  for 
domestick  peace,  and  the  satisfactions  of  study. 

He  always  had  been  a  student.  He  was  an  excel- 
lent scholar  at  ccllege,  and  afterwards  pursued  phi- 
losophical studies,  having  left  his  mercantile  busi- 
ness, that  he  might  enjoy  otiuni  cum  dignitciic^  His 
letters  to  Dr.  lianklin  have  been  published.  When 
the  Americaii  academy  ol  arts  and  sciences  was  insti- 
tuted,  he  was  appointed  the  first  president,  and  con- 
tributed several  papers  which  were  printed  in  the 
first  volume  of  their  transactions.       he  also  pro- 


BOW  77 

nounced  an  oration,  '*  upon  the  benefits  of  philoso- 
phy,"  which  was  printed  in  a  pamphlet,  and  also  in 
the  volume,  with  the  proceedings  of  the  society. 
His  literary  reputation  was  not  confined  to  his  own 
country.  He  was  a  member  of  several  foreign  soci- 
eties for  the  promotion  of  agriculture,  arts  and  com- 
merce. He  was  also  fellow  of  the  royal  society, 
London.  He  received  a  diploma  of  doctor  of  laws 
from  several  universities  of  Kurope,  and  from  Phi- 
ladelphia, as  well  as  his  Alma  Mater  at  Cambridge. 
It  was  a  great  acquisition  to  this  seminary,  to  have 
him  connected  with  their  government.  As  a  mem- 
ber of  the  council  he  was  ex  officio,  one  of  the 
overseers.  And  he  was  elected  a  fellow  of  the  cor- 
poratiftn,  which  office  he  executed  with  great  judg- 
ment, honour  and  fidelity,  but  which  he  resigned 
when  he  was  chosen  governor  of  the  Commonwealth. 
He  was  a  munificent  friend  to  the  college.  Beside 
his  donations  to  the  library,  and  philosophical  ap- 
paratus, he  left  £  400  Massachusetts  currency  to 
be  appropriated  to  certain  purposes,  as  mentioned 
in  his  will  His  large  and  valuable  library  was 
given  to  the  academy  of  arts  and  sciences. 

In  other  walks  of  life  Mr.  Bowdoin  was  conspic- 
ous  and  useful.  When  the  humane  society  was 
instituted  he  was  chosen  the  first  president.  He 
was  always  ready  to  promote  every  literary,  benev- 
olent and  religious  institution.  He  exhibited  the 
virtues  of  social  life  in  all  their  engaging  lustre,  and 
he  also  breathed  a  christian  spirit. 

His  mind  was  imbued  with  religious  sentiments, 
by  his  education,  and  formed  to  the  love  of  good- 
ness :  he  was  fond  of  theological  inquiries  amidst 
the  course  of  his  other  studies.  Few  men,  who  are 
not  of  the  profession,  have  studied  divinity  with  more 
earnestness,  or  greater  desire  to  obtain  knowledge  of 
the  scriptures.  He  early  in  life  became  a  commu- 
nicant  at  the  church  in  Brattle-street.  When  the 
people  of  this  society  took  down  their  ancient  build- 
ing, it  wis  the  desire  of  many  to  rebuild  their  church 


78  BOY 

in  a  more  eligible  situation,  Mr.  Bowdoin  oftercd 
a  spot,  which  is  now  one  of  the  most  valuable  es- 
tates in  the  town.  The  majority  preferred  the 
place  where  their  fathers  had  worshipped-  His  of- 
fer being  declined,  he  contributed  largely  towards 
erecting  the  present  noble  and  superb  edifice.  That 
religion  which  had  supported  hiiji  through  various 
scenes  of  his  life,  was  the  source  of  consolation,  du- 
ring a  long  course  of  sickness,  owing  to  a  frame 
naturally  delicate.  He  recommended  to  the  rising 
generation  to  read  bishop  Butler's  analogy,  from 
which  he  had  derived  much  lo  strengthen  his  own 
principles.  He  died  universally  lamented,  Nov.  6, 
1790.  He  left  one  son,  the  hon.  J.  Bowdoin,  late 
plenipotentiary  at  the  court  of  Madrid,  affd  one 
daughter,  the  lady  of  sir  John  Temple,  late  consul 
general  of  Great  Britain  in  the  United  States  Pern- 
berton'^s  Mss,  Prhate  information.  T hac her'' s  Sermon. 
Boy ls TON  Zabdiel,  F.  R.  S  was  born  in 
Brookline,  168  i.  He  had  the  advantage  of  only  a 
common  education,  but  rose  to  be  the  most  emin- 
ent medical  practitioner  in  the  town  of  Boston. 
What  gave  him  peculiar  distinction  was,  his  suc- 
cess in  inoculation  fur  the  s7naU  pox.  In  17^0, 
he  introduced  this  practice,  and  is  known  to  be  the 
first  physician  in  the  Biitish  dominions  that  dared 
to  do  it.  It  was  risquing  his  reputation  and  life. 
The  famous  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  recommended  this 
method  from  an  account  of  inoculation  at  Constan- 
tinople, which  he  had  seen  in  the  philosophical 
transactions.  He  first  communicated  it  to  Doug- 
lass, a  Scotchman  of  more  learning  than  true  wis- 
dom, who  treated  the  proposal  with  ill  nature,  and 
contempt.* 

*  Dr.  Ramsay,  in  his  Review  of  Medicine,  in  the  18th  century, 
gives  great  credit  to  th<;  clergy  tor  their  exertions  at  this  time. 
'J  he  fact  is,  a  clergyman  first  recommended  it.  and  that  Dr. 
B{jylston  was  svipporttd  by  them  through  all  his  embarrass- 
nnents.  Dr.  Colmam  as  well  as  Dr.  Mather,  wrote  in  favour  of 
it  ;  as  a  body,  tlie  Bo-^tori  A.sf^oria'ion  united  to  stop  the  tor- 
reiit  of  prejudice,  which  bore  down  ail  before    it.     Some  of  the- 


BOY  79 

He  then  made  application  to  Dr.  Boylston,  a  man 
of  more  sagacity  and  moral  worth,  who  gave  it  to 
his  own  children  and  others  ;  and  met  with  won- 
derful success.  Douglass  became  a  convert,  when 
he  had  made  use  of  every  method  to  injure  his 
brother  physician,  whom  he  called  a  bold  and  ig- 
norant quack,"  many  years  after  this.  By  this  new 
mode  of  treating  the  small  pox  in  Boston,  274  per- 
sons were  inoculated  by  Dr.  B.  1721,  and  very  few 
died.  '!  he  practice  was  very  soon  introduced  in 
the  Island  of  Great  Britain,  and  with  equal  success. 
Every  attention  was  paid  to  Dr.  Boylston  while 
he  was  in  England  ;  among  other  honours  he  was 
chosen  fellow  of  the  Royal  Society,  which  was  a 
retvard  of  merit,  sufficient  to  balance  the  rough 
compliments  of  his  professional  acquaintance,  the 
canting  abuse  of  persons  righteous  overmuch,  and 
the  coarse  epithets  which  issued  from  the  foul 
mouths  of  the  vulgar. 

He  wrote  several  papers  in  the  philosophical 
transactions  of  London.  We  know  not  of  any- 
other  publications,  except  the  pamphlet  he  printed, 
on  the  ''  benefit  of  inoculation." 

After  a  long  period  of  eminence  and  skill  in  his 
profession  he  retired  to  his  patrimonial  estate  in 
Brookline  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He 
died  thereon  the  1st  of  March,  1766;  and  was  in- 
terred in  his  own  tomb,  which  bears  the  following 
plain,  appropriate,  and  just  inscription." 

*'  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Z.  Boylston,  esq. 

elero;y  received  personal  injury,  others  were  insulted  in  the 
street,  and  were  hardly  safe  in  their  houses.  The  people  were 
pot  vvillmg  to  he.ir  them  on  Sunday,  till  the  success  of  the  prac- 
tice made  them  think  it  was  the  hand  of  Providence  in  their  fa- 
vour. The  newspapers  were  filled  with  arguments  for  and  a- 
g^ai.nst  it.  The  Courant^  printed  by  the  Franklins,  was  under  the 
inflvience  of  the  Physicians,  who  abused  the  clergy  for  their  in- 
terference in  the  matter.  Every  bad  consequence  was  painted  in 
lively  colours  by  these  learned  editors,  who  thought  inoculation  un- 
favourable to  the  heiilth  of  people,  even  if  they  had  the  small  pox 
more  favourably  than  common,  &:c.  S^c.  A'(??v  England  Cournnt,  1721. 


80  BRA 

physician,  and  F.  R.  S.  who  first  introduced  the 
practice  of  inoculation  into  America.  Through  a 
life  of  extensive  beneficence,  he  was  always  faith- 
ful to  his  word,  ju:.t  in  his  dealings,  affable  in  his 
manners  ;  and  after  a  long  sickness,  in  which  he 
was  exemplary  for  his  patience  and  resignation  to 
his  Maker,  he  quitted  this  mortal  life,  in  a  just  ex- 
pectation of  a  happy  immortality,  March  I,  1766." 
Thacher'*s  Memoir.     Pierce's  Sermon, 

Bradford  William,  gov  o!  Piymouth  colo- 
ny, was  born  in  a  village  called  Ansterfield,  1588. 
When  he  was  eighteen  years  old  he  went  over  to 
Zealand,  where  he  was  taken  up  by  an  officer,  as 
a  deserter  from  England,  but  soon  released,  having 
given  a  good  account  of  himself.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  imstcrdam,  and  served  his  time  till  he 
was  of  age,  in  *' working  of  silks."  He  became  a 
man  of  industry  in  his  business,  converted  the  es- 
tate he  had  in  England  into  money,  and  behaved 
with  great  prudence  among  those  religious  people 
who  had  left  England  to  enjoy  peace  of  conscience  ; 
with  whom  he  continued  till  the  church  at  Leyden 
agreed  to  transport  themselves  to  America.  When 
they  reached  Plymouth,  he  lost  his  wife,  which  was 
a  most  melancholy  event,  and  attended  with  aggra- 
vated circumstances  of  grief,  as  she  accidently  fell 
from  the  vessel,  and  was  drowned.  After  governor 
Carver  died,  he  was  unanimously  chosen  governor 
of  the  plantation.  No  man  could  discover  more 
prudence  and  fortitude  than  Mr.  Bradford.  In 
those  times,  when  their  souls  were  tried  with  every 
difficulty,  he  was  not  cast  down  with  the  discour- 
aging state  of  their  affi\irs,  or  by  the  clouds  which 
covered  their  future  prospects.  He  foiuid  it  nec- 
essary to  manage  things  differently  from  what  had 
been  proposed.  For,  in  order  to  resemble  the 
primitive  church,  the  planters  had  a  common  stock. 
He  was  of  opinion  that  to  encourage  industry,  each 
individual  should  be  master  of  his  own  property  j 
and  they  all  soon  perceived  the  advantage  of  the 
measure. 


BRA  81 

He  was  required  to  exercise  his  wisdom  in  anoth- 
er matter,  which  ih .eatened  evil  to  the  plantation, 
and  where  the  religion  they  held  so  dear  was  wound- 
ed in  the  house  of  its  friends.  Kvery  account  of 
the  settlement  of  Plymouth  mentions  the  conduct  of 
Lyford  who  attempted  to  disorganize  their  church, 
and  who  was  detected  by  the  vigilance  of  the  gov- 
ernor. Mr.  B,  had  afterwards  a  hard  task  to  exculpate 
the  colony  from  a  charge  of  dissembling  with  his 
majesty  in  a  petition,  wherein  they  declared  that 
their  church  discipline  did  agree  with  the  reformed 
churches  in  Europe.  His  answer  to  this  charge 
is  ;  that  they  had  kept  to  their  agreement,  had 
been  falsely  accused,  and  denied  that  they  were 
Brownists,  or,  like  those  Sectaries,  renounced 
the  church  of  England.  Mr.  B.  was  a  good  writ- 
er,  compared  with  others  of  those  times,  though 
his  style  may  seem  uncouth  to  modern  ears.  He 
understood  several  languages  ;  latin,  greek  and  he- 
brew  ;  French  and  Dutch  he  spake ;  and  was  con- 
versant with  theology.  He  was  in  the  chair  above 
thirt;  years,  and  died.  May  9th,  1657,  aged  69. 
Mr  Winslow  was  elected  governor,  1633,  1636, 
1644,  and  Mr.  Prince,  1634,  1657.  Every  other 
year  the  old  governor  was  elected.  Magnalia^  Book 
II  page  5. 

Bradstreet  Simon,  was  of  Emanuel  College, 
Cambridge,  whence  he  removed  to  the  family  of 
the  earl  of  Lincoln,  as  his  steward,  and  afterwards 
he  lived  in  the  same  capacity  with  the  countess  of 
Warwick.  He  married  one  of  Mr.  Dudley's 
daughters,  and  after  her  death,  a  sister  of  sir  George 
Downing.  He  lived  to  be  the  Nestor  of  New  En- 
gland ;  was  born  in  the  beginning  of  the  century,  in 
1603,  and  wanted  but;  two  or  three  years  of  com- 
pleting it. 

This  gentleman,  one  of  the  fathers  of  Masschu- 
setts,  was  a  magistrate  many  years,  and,  in  1662, 
was  sent  to  England  as  agent,  at  a  time  of  peculiar 
difficulty,   when  it  required  more  wisdom  than  he 

M 


.S2  BRA 

possessed,  though  lie  was  a  ])rudent   and  worthy 
person,  to  answer  ihe  expectations  of  the   peopk. 
Mr.  Norton  was  his  assistant.     Their  business  was 
to  represent  the  colony  as  his  majesty's  loyal  sub- 
jects, when  it  was  well  known  that  they  were  actu- 
ated by  republican  sentiments,  and  were  puritans  of 
a  strict  denomination,  with  no  knid  of  reverence  for 
bishops  or  nobles.     They  met  with  a  more  favour- 
able reception  than  their  friends  in  England  hud  an- 
ticipated ;  and  returned  with  a  letter  from  the  king, 
w^hich  caused  much  joy  ;   and  led  the  agents  to  sup- 
pose that  they  had  done  their  duty  completely  ;  and 
diat  their  business  was  successful.      But  when  the 
general  court  met,  and  the  whole  subject  of  the  let- 
.  ter  was  discussed,  it  appeared  to  some  of  the  mag- 
istrates,  and  to  the  leaders  of  the  populace,    that 
^  .their  charter  privileges  were  invaded,  for  they  were 
required  to  send  their  laws  to  be  reviewed  in  Eng- 
land,  and  such  as  might  be  found  contrary  to  the 
king's  authority  to  be  annulled.      There  was  also  a 
violent  attack  upon  their  religious  prejudices,   and 
upon  the  habits  and  customs   of  the   plantations ; 
for  liberty  was  given  to  every  man  to  use  the  com- 
mon prayer,  and  that  all  of  honest  lives  and  conver- 
sations should  be  admitted  to  the  sacrament  oi  the 
Lord's  supper,  and  their  children  to  baptism. 

When  the  resentment  of  the  people  was  excited, 
it  did  not  fall  upon  Mr.  Bradstreet  so  much  as 
Mr.  Norton,  who  had  to  defend  himself  against  the 
religious  bigotry  of  the  age.  But  neither  gentle- 
man could  retain  his  popularity,  nor  resist  the  pub- 
lick  obloquy.  Mr.  N.  died,  it  was  said  of  chagrin, 
while  Mr.  Bradstreet  continued  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  his  other  station,  being  conscious  of  rec- 
titude, or  feeling  a  cold  indifference  towards  the 
opinion  and  the  clamours  of  the  miultitude.  Every 
impartial  person  who  now  recurs  to  those  transac- 
tions will  rather  wonder,  that,  at  such  a  court  as 
Charles  II.  they  could  obtain  so  much,  than  think 
that  they  w^ere  worthy  of  blame.      In  1679,  Mr.  B. 


BRA  83 

was  chosen  governor.     Hutchinson  represents  hirri 
as  the  head  of  the  moderate  party  while  he  was  in 
office.   The  deputy  governor,  Mr   Dan  forth,  led  the 
popular  side  :    Stoughton,    Dudley  and   Brown  of 
Salem  were  inclined  to  the  royalists.     They  fell  in 
with  the  governor,  and  were  afterwards  disposed  th 
2:0  bevoncl  his  measures      When  Mr.  Dudlev  w^as 
appointed  to  be  the  head  of  administration,  Brad-] 
street  was  appointed  counsellor,    and  refused  th^ 
commission.      He  opposed   w^ith  earnestness  An- 
dross's  arbitrary  proceedings.     And  when  the  peo- 
ple put  d(j\vn  his  authority,  they  made    choice  of 
their  old  governor  for  their  president  ;   he  continued 
their  first  character  till  the  arrival  of  sir   William 
Phipps,  W'ith  the  new  charter,  and  then  the  venerable 
old  charter  governor  resigned  the  chair,  which  ex- 
cited the  sympathy  of  many,  who  remembered  an- 
cient times,  and  beheld  the  scenes  now  opening,  and 
which  were  to  introduce   more   prosperous  days, 
with  the  sigh  of  regret,  and  emotions  Vv^hich  they 
could  not  express.       Governor  Bradstreet  died  at 
Salem,  March  27,  1697,  aged  95.      He  had  been  a 
magistrate,  secretary,  agent,  commissioner  for  the 
United  Colonics,    and    governor   of  the   province. 
Not  the   most  highly  esteemed  by  any  party,  but 
despised  by  none  ;    upright  as  w^ell  as  moderate  in 
his  principles.  '■'Medium  est  virtus  quod  tenuisse  ju- 
vat."     This  is  good  as  a    lesson  for  children,  and 
agrees  well  with  the  christian  religion.     But  it  op- 
poses the  views  of  enterprising  men,  the  turbulent 
spirit  of  the  ambitious,   and  the  zeal  of  those  who 
delight  in  controversy.     Hutch.  'uoL  I.  page  18. 

Brattle  Thomas,  treasurer  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, was  graduated  at  that  seminary,  to  which  he 
was  always  a  munificent  friend,  1676.  And  was 
chosen  treasurer,  1693  ;  which  office  he  retained  till 
his  death.  1713. 

He  was  an  eminent  merchant  of  the  town  of 
Boston,  a  benefactor  to  the  poor,  and  a  useful,  as 
well  as  opulent  citizen.       From  him,  one  of  the 


84  BRA 

streets  took  its  name ;  and  he  was  the  principal 
founder  of  Brattle -street  church.  He  was  equally 
distinguished  for  his  good  sense  and  good  breed- 
ing ;  his  liberality  of  sentiment,  his  genius  and 
learning ;  and  his  zeal  for  the  publick  prosperity. 
He  was  obliged  to  engage  in  a  controversy  with 
certain  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  too  much  attached 
to  the  platform  of  the  New  England  churches,  when 
he  proposed  the  plan  of  the  new  church  ;  but  he 
behaved  with  equal  spirit  and  honour  :  and  having 
obtained  the  consent  of  Dr.  Col  man  to  be  pastor, 
who  was  ordained  in  England,  the  society  grew 
and  flourished  under  his  care  ;  and  has  ever  been 
considered  as  one  of  the  most  respectable  upon  the 
congregational  establishment. 

There  was  another  occasion  of  exerting  his  tal- 
ents,  when  the  country  was  under  the  strangest  de- 
lusion, and  a  number  of  innocent  persons  suffered 
an  ignominious  death,  from  a  suspicion  of  witch- 
craft.  Mr.  B.  wrote  an  account  of  those  transac- 
tions, which  was  too  plain  and  just  to  be  published 
in  those  unhappy  times,  but  has  been  printed  since  ; 
and  which  cannot  be  read  without  feeling  sentiments 
of  esteem  for  a  man  who  indulged  a  freedom  of 
thought  becoming  a  christian  and  a  philosopher. 
He,  from  the  beginning,  opposed  the  prejudices  of 
the  people,  the  proceedings  of  the  court,  and  the 
perverse  zeal  of  those  ministers  of  the  gospel,  who, 
by  their  preaching  and  conduct,  caused  such  real 
distress  to  the  community.  They,  who  called  him 
an  infidel,  were  obliged  to  acknowledge,  that  his 
wisdom  shone  with  uncommon  lustre. 

Mr.  Brattle  is  recorded  among  the  benefactors  of 
Harvard  College,  and  when  he  died  they  lost  one  of 
their  best  and  most  useful  officers. 

Though  Mr.  B.  w^as  the  author  of  several  fugi- 
tive  pieces,  we  have  have  nothing  under  his  name 
but  the  work  to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  and 
which  is  styled,  '*  a  full  and  candid  account  of  the 
delusion  called  v^itchcraft  which  prevailed  in  New 


BRA  ^ 

England  ;  and  of  the  judicial  trials  and  executions 
at  Salem,  in  the  county  of  hssex,  for  that  pretended 
crime,  in  1692.     H.st,   Coll.  ijoL  V.  page  61 — 80. 

LSrattle  William,  minister  of  the  church  in 
Cambridge,  was  the  brother  of  Thomas,  and  born 
at  Boston,  1662.  Was  graduated  1680;  and  cho- 
sen tutor  and  fellow  of  the  corporation. 

In  the  year  1696,  he  was  ordained,  and  still  kept 
up  his  connection  with  the  college,  though  he  left 
the  immediate  government  and  instruction.  He  was 
active  in  promoting  every  thing  which  would  ad- 
vance the  interest  and  prosperity  of  that  literary  so- 
ciety. His  benevolent  disposition  stimulated  him 
to  give  largely  to  indigent  students,  and  he  be- 
queathed a  handsome  legacy,  which  is  now  employ- 
ed for  their  benefit. 

He  was  himself  a  very  accomplished  scholar, 
a  great  logician,  a  philosopher,  a  writer  of  philolog- 
ical taste,  as  well  as  eminent  in  theological  learning. 

As  a  preacher,  he  was  pathetick,  soft,  melting 
and  persuasive.  A  son  of  consolation  ;  for  his  spir- 
it dwelt  not  in  fire y  nor  could  it  ride  in  the  storm. 
He  was  the  particular  friend  of  pres.  Leverett,  Dr. 
Colman,  and  Mr.  Pemberton,  three  of  the  most  el- 
egant men  of  New  England  in  their  manners,  as 
well  as  the  cultivation  of  the  mind.  Mr.  Brattle 
had  also  an  extensive  correspondence  abroad,  and 
was  fellow  of  the  royal  society  of  London. 

Mr.  Agent  Dummer  in  one  of  his  letters  gives  an 
exalted  character  of  the  Cambridge  minister  in  a 
few  descriptive  lines.  *'  I  think  the  modern  ser- 
mons which  are  preached,  and  printed,  are  very  lean 
and  dry,  having  little  divinity  in  them  or  brightness 
of  style  ;  I  am  sure  they  are  no  way  comparable  to 
the  solid  discourses  which  Mr.  Brattle  gives  you 
every  week." 

This  excellent  man  died  Feb.  15,  1717,  aged  55. 
The  inscription  on  his  tomb  is  given  by  Dr.  Holmes 
in  his  history  of  Cambridge.  Ivi any  particulars  of 
his  life  and  preaching  are  also  recorded. 


St>  B  R  E 

Dr.  Colmaii  preached  a  funeral  scnnon  upon  Mi\ 
Brattle,  which  may  be  read  as  a  most  beautiful  eu- 
iogV    from  the  hand  of  a  wise  and  judicious  friend. 

Mr.  Brattle  published  a  compendium  ot  logick, 
"secundum  principia  D.  Renati  cartesiiplerumque 
eftbrmatum,  et  cate  chistice  propositum."  'I  his 
passed  throu^^h  several  editions.  It  was  studied  in 
college  till  the  year  1765.  and  is  now  valued  by  men 
of  learning  as  an  excellent  compendious  system  ; 
but  is  found  only  among  rare  and  curious  books. 

Brewster  William,  a  distinguished  character 
among  the  first  planters,  was  born,  1560.  lie  was 
educated  at  the  university  of  Cambridge.  When 
queen  Elizabeth  made  a  league  with  the  states  of 
Holland,  she  sent  Davison,  as  her  ambassador,  who 
carried  Mr.  Brewster  with  him,  as  his  secretary,  in 
v/hom  he  placed  the  greatest  confidence,  aiul  who 
gained  the  esteem  of  that  people.  The  keys  of 
Flushing  were  committed  to  him  while  the  negotia- 
tion was  pending,  and  when  the  business  was  fin- 
ished, he  received  from  the  states  a  golden  chain,  as 
a  reward  of  merit.  The  ambassador  was  afterwards 
disgraced,  owing  to  the  capricious  humour  of  his 
mistress,  who  always  laid  her  own  fliults  upon  her 
courtiers.  His  faithful  secretary  adhered  to  him5like 
the  true  friend,  in  the  time  of  adversity.  The  same 
i-ntegrity  Mr.  B.  manifested  in  all  his  aflliirs,  and 
through  all  the  changing  scenes  of  life  ;  for  his  pi- 
ou-  zeal  operated  upon  the  virtuous  affections  of  his 
so'.d.  He  was  so  highly  respected  in  the  church 
of  Leyden,  as  to  be  chosen  their  ruling  elder  ;  and 
he  acted  like  a  shepherd  in  leading  the  flock  through 
the  paths  of  the  wilderness.  He  would  not  accept 
the  office  of  pastor,  but  preached  to  the  people  who 
came  over  with  him  to  Plymouth,  and  performed 
most  part  of  a  minister'^,  duty.  The  church  were 
benefitted  by  his  labours,  and  would  have  been  hap- 
py if  he  had  consented  to  administer  the  ordinances, 
Urc  he  was  wise,  learned  and  prudent.  By  his  in- 
fluence he   might  have   prevented  those  disorders 


BRI  S7 

which  sprang  from  the  gifted  brethren, who,  were  apt 
to  speak ;  and  from  those  ignorant  or  designing  men, 
who  took  upon  themselves  the  pastoral  office. 

Elder  Brewster  was  as  bold  in  defending  the 
plantation  against  the  Indians,  as  he  was  meek  and 
humble  when  diffusing  the  light  of  truth,  or  describ- 
ing the  offices  of  love.  He  lived  to  be  84  years  old, 
and  his  usefulness  increased  with  his  years.  He 
was  able  to  work  in  the  field  and  preach  to  the  peo- 
ple till  he  was  called  out  of  the  w^orld,  April  16, 
1644.     Morton,  Prince,  Belknap. 

Bridge  Thomas,  pastor  of  the  old  or  first 
church,  was  born  at  Hackney,  in  England,  1657; 
liad  a  liberal  education,  and,  as  a  man  of  business, 
travelled  over  different  parts  of  Europe  ;  and  from 
being  a  merchant  of  integrity  and  hoiiour,  he  be- 
came a  pious  and  useful  minister  of  religion.  From 
the  Mediterranean  sea  he  made  a  voyage  to  the  West 
Indies.  He  first  preached  at  Jamaica  ;  from  that 
island  he  went  to  New  Providence,  and  while  he 
resided  there  was  the  principal  man  in  the  place. 
Thence  he  proceeded  to  Bermuda, and  was  remark- 
ably assiduous  in  a  time  of  pestilence  and  great 
mortality.  It  is  said  he  preached  twenty  nine  times 
in  one  month.  His  first  place  of  residence  in  North 
America  was  West  Jersey,  and  he  caip*e  to  Boston 
about  the  year  1705.  He  was  ordained  in  May,  of 
the  same  year,  being  invited  to  the  pastoral  care  of 
a  flock,  whose  famous  predecessors  w'eretobe  suc- 
ceeded. *'  The  light  was  now  fixed  in  a  candle- 
stick,'" according  to  the  language  of  Cotton  Math- 
er, ''  and  shone  for  eleven  years  together,  some  of 
the  rays  of  wl:iich  we  have  in  his  printed  composi- 
tion.""   Ele  died,  Sept.  26,  1715,  aged  58. 

Ele  has  been  thus  characterised  by  a  writer  more 
elegant,  though  less  learned,  than  Dr.  Mather,  as  a 
man  upright  and  conscientious,  meek,  mild,  quiet, 
gentle  ;  not  the  brightest  and  most  active  of  his 
brethren,  but  a  goodly  speaker;  his  gravity  and 
composure  were  neither  frigid,  nor  austere  ;  prayer 


«8  BUG 

was  his  gift,  the  bible  was  his  library,*    Colman'^s 
funeral  sermon, 

BucKftfiNSTER  Joseph,  minister  of  the  church 
in  Rutland,  was  educated  at  Harvard  College.  He 
received  the  honours  of  the  seminary,  1759;  was 
ordained  at  Rutland,  171-2  ;  and  continued  a  faithful 
and  laborious  pastor  of  that  church  above  50  years/ 
He  was  highly  respected  by  the  neighbouring  clergy, 
for  his  piety  and  usefulness,  and  as  much  esteemed 
by  his  flock.  He  was  in  principle  a  suhlapsarimi 
Calvinist.  In  defence  of  these  sentiments  he  en- 
gaged in  a  controversy,  and  his  writings  discover 
solidity  and  strength  of  mind,  attention  to  theology, 
and  an  ardent  desire  that  all  men  should  believe 
what  he  supposed  the  doctrines  of  the  scriptures. 
In  1719,  Mr.  Foster,  of  Stafford,  printed  a  sermon, 
in  which  he  held  forth  a  twofold  justification ;  and, 
'*  a  remedial  law,  or  law  of  grace,  whose  precepts 
are  brought  down  to  a  level  with  the  fallen  sinner's 
abilities  ;"  according  to  which  they  are  able  to  do 
well,  and  so  ensure  their  future  felicity.  This  was 
judged  a  heretical  sentiment  by  the  ministers  in 
Worcester  county,  and  Mr.  B.  printed  a  pamphlet 
on  Rom.  x.  4,  which  is  an  answer  to  Mr.  Foster, 
and  for  which  he  received  a  vote  of  thanks  from  the 
association,  signed  by  Nathan  Fisk,  scribe.  Mr. 
F.  replied,  and  several  pamphlets  were  written. 

Mr.  Buckminster  also  published  dissertations  up^ 
on  gospel  salvation,  Ephes.  ii.  9,  10,  11.  In  these 
he  holds  the  doctrine  of  election  against  the  Armini- 
ans ;  but  on  the  other  hand  in  opposition  to  the  su- 
pralapsarians,  he  says,  *  The  decrees  have  no  di* 
rect  positive  influence  upon  us.  We  are  determin- 
ed by  motives,  but  act  freely  and  voluntarily.  They 
lie  in  the  foundation  of  the  divine  proceedings,  and 
compose  his  plan  of  operation.  They  infer  the  cer- 
tain futurition  of  things,   but  have  no  influence  ah 

*  His  piinted  discourses  are,  I.  The  mind  at  ease.  2.  What 
faith  can  do.  3.  Jethro's  counsel.  4.  A  sermon  to  the  artillery 
company. 


B  U  L  89 

extra  to  bring  them  to  pass.  Whom  God  chooses, 
he  calls  ;  yet  choosing  is  one  thing,  and  calling 
another,"  &c.  And  although  Mr.  B.  allows  *'  no 
promises  ot  special  favours  to  the  unregenerate  ;*' 
yet  he  will  grant  *'  that  encouragements  are  given 
as  grounds  of  hope  ;  and  which  carry  the  nature  of 
a  promise." 

Mr.  B.  died  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age,  Nov.  27, 
1792.*  He  left  a  son  in  the  ministry,  rev.  J.  Buck- 
minster,  D.  D.  of  Portsmouth,  whose  son,  the  rev. 
J.  S.  Buck  minster,  is  minister  of  the  church  in 
Brattle  street,  Boston 

BuLKLEY  Pf  TER,  the  first  minister  of  Concord, 
MassachusettSjWasthe  son  of  Edward  Bulkley,D  D. 
an  eminent  minister  in  Bedfordshire,  whose  name 
is  mentioned  with  respect  in  the  book  of  the  mar- 
tyrs. At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  was  admitted  a 
member  of  St.  John's  college,  Cambridge,  and  while 
he  was  junior  bachelor,  was  chos^w  felleiD  ;  and  then 
proceeded  bachelor  of  divinity.  He  came  to  New 
England,  1635  :  resided  at  Cambridge  some  months, 
and  then  preferred  a  place  in  the  more  interior  part 
of  the  country.  The  spot  was  pleasant,  and  from 
being  one  of  the  towns  of  the  first  planters,  has 
since  become  one  of  the  most  flourishing  in  the 
county  of  Middlesex.  It  still  bears  the  name  of  Con- 
cord, which  he  gave  it;  and  the  twelfth  church  was 
gathered  here,  which  had  been  founded  in  the  colo- 
ny. He  possessed  a  handsome  estate  ;  and  it  is  also 
reported  of  him  that  he  gave  away  a  number  of 
farms  to  several  persons  who  became  good  hus- 
bandmen. Some  of  them  had  been  his  servants,  and 
became  respectable  men  among  the  yeomanry.  Dr. 
Mather  says  he  was  a  most  excellent  scholar,  a  per- 
son of  extensive  reading,  who  gave  advice  to  young 
students.       He  was  also  a   benefactor  to  Harvard 

*  His  publications  are,  an  ordination  sermon,  a  sermon  upon 
family  religion,  paraphrase  on  Rom.  x.  4,  dissertations  on  Ephes. 
ji.  9,  10.  11,  and  a  sermon  upon  the  covenant  made  with  Abra» 
Iiam,J<c, 


^0  B  U  L 

College  at  the  beginning  of  that  literary  institution. 
Having  a  handsome  library  of  his  own,  he  endowed 
the  publick  library  at  Cambridge  with  a  considera- 
ble part  of  it.  He  was  a  man  of  hasty  spirit,  and 
quick  at  shewing  resentment  ;  disposed  likewise  to 
make  severe  remarks  in  his  sermons  :  was  one  of 
the  strictest  of  the  puritans,  and  had  given  offence 
on  this  account  to  some  of  the  moderate  party  in  the 
old  country,  as  well  as  to  the  enemies  of  the  dis- 
senting interest. 

During  his  ministry  the  pastor  and  ruling  elder 
had  a  dispute,  and  it  ended  in  requiring  the  eider  to 
abdicate  his  seat.  They  called  an  ecclesiastical 
council,  and  this  was  the  advice.  The  improve- 
ment he  made  of  this  unhappy  contention  may  be 
profitable  to  ministers  m  other  places,  some  of  w  horn 
meet  with  trials  from  false  brethren  ;  or  those  who 
are  wise  in  their  own  conceit.  Mr  Bulklcy  learned 
from  it,  to  "•  know  more  of  God,  more  of  himself, 
and  more  of  men." 

This  worthy  man  died,  A.  D  1658,  aged  77. 
He  was  an  author  of  uncommon  reputation,  and 
ivrote  handsomely  in  Latin  or  English.  The  first  set- 
tlers of  Massachusetts  were  in  general  excellent  lat- 
in scholars,  and  many  of  them  made  a  figure  in  the 
universities  of  Europe.  It  seems  Mr.  Bulkley  was 
a  poet ;  he  wi'ote  poems  when  he  was  above  72, 
which  have  been  praised  by  scholars  of  the  next  age.^- 

The  year  before  he  died  he  composed  the  follow- 
ing epigram, 

Pigra  senectutis  jajn  venit  inulilis  etas, 
Nil  aliud  nu[ic  sum  qimm  fere  pondus  iners. 

*  He  printed  several  books  ;  one  u/ion  the  cove7iant ;  several  ser- 
mons upon  Zee.  ix  11.  Concerning  these, Mr.  Shepherd  ol  Cam- 
bridge, says,  '  The  church  of  God  is  bound  to  bleas  (iocL  for  the 
holy,  judicious  a?id  learned  labours  of  this  aged  servant  of  Christy 
who  has  ta/ceti  f lain'*,  to  discover^  and  that^  not  in  ivords  and  allego- 
ries, but  in  demonstration  and  evidence  ofsjiirit^  the  great  mystery  of 
godliness  wrapt  u/i  in  the  covenant. 


BU  R  91 

Da  tamen,  alme  Deus,  ckim  vivam,  vivere  laudi 

Eiernuni  saricii  noniinis  usque  tu'u 

Ne  vivam  (ootiu^-  n»oriai  !)  nil  utile  agendo 

Finiut  opto  ma^is,  mors  properata  dies. 

Vel  doceam  in  sanclo  csetii  tua  verba  salutis, 

Cseleslive  Ccinam  cantica  sacra  choro. 

Seu  vivam,  moriarve,  tuus  sum,  Ciiriste,  quod  uni 

Debi'la  vita  mea  est,  debita  morsque  tibi. 

Bulk  LEY  John,  minister  of  Colchester,  Con- 
necticut, is  mentioned  by  Dr.  Chauncy  as  one  of 
the  greatest  men  of  New  England.  He  knew  him 
when  he  himself  was  a  young  man,  and  often  spake 
of  him  in  company  with  his  brethren  ;  relat- 
ing things  astonishing  of  his  memory.  In  a  written 
account  of  him,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Stile^,  he  says, 
"  that  xVIr.  Dummer  and  he,  who  were  classmates  at 
college,  were  accounted  the  greatest  geniuses  of  the 
day.  The  preference  was  given  to  Dummer  in  regard 
ol  quickness, brilliancy  and  wit ;  to  Bulkley  in  regard 
to  solidity  of  judgment  and  strength  of  argument." 

Mr.  Bulkley  was  the  son  of  the  rev.  Gershom 
Bulkley,  and  grandson  of  Peter  Bulkley  of  Con- 
cord. He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
161^9,  and  died,  suddenly,  June,  1731. 

In  1729,  he  printed  an  account  of  an  impartial 
debate  at  Lyme,  "  upon  the  subjects  of  baptism, 
the  mode  of  baptising,  and  the  maintenance  of  min- 
isters." No  other  publication  appears  with  his 
name. 

Burnet  William,  esq.  governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts, son  of  Gilbert  Burnet,  bishop  of  Sa- 
rum,  was  born  at  the  Hague  in  March  preceding 
the  revolution,  and  named  William  after  the  illus- 
trious prince  of  Orange,  who  was  his  godfather. 

The  great  part  which  his  father  had  in  the  acces- 
sion  of  that  prince  to  the  British  throne,  and  his 
steady  attachment  to  the  Hanoverian  line,  brought 
him  early  into  the  notice  of  the  court  In  the  year 
1 720,  he  was  in  the  post  of  comptroller  of  the  cus- 
toms, which  he  exchanged  for  the  government  of 
New  York  and  New  Jersey.  He  arrived  at  New 
York,  Sept.  19.  The  first  speech  he  made^  discov- 


02c  BUR 

ered  the  abilities  of  an  elegant  scholar,  and  the  man» 
ners  of  a  j^entleman.  *•  1  serve  a  prince,  the  best 
that  ever  was,  from  whom  I  may  expect  the  most 
gracious  acceptance  of  my  labours ;  I  succeed  a 
gentleman  who  left  this  province  in  a  flourishing 
State,  and  is  still  ready  to  declare  for  its  interests  ; 
1  meet  a  council  and  assembly  who  concurred  with 
him,  and  assisted  him  in  those  great  and  good  mea- 
sures, that  are  now  confirmed  by  his  majesty,  and 
have  been  so  effectual  to  secure  publick  credit,  and 
the  peace  of  the  province."  His  administration  was 
very  acceptable  to  the  people,  till  an  opposition 
arose  from  the  merchants  of  the  city,  on  account  of 
an  act  passed  against  the  sale  of  goods  to  the  French, 
which  were  proper  for  the  Indian  trade.  This  law 
was  advantageous  to  the  province  ;  but  enterprising 
speculators,  and  the  importers  of  merchandize,  did 
not  regard  the  general  good  so  much  as  their  own 
advantage.  They  discovered  their  malevolence 
against  the  governor,  and  being  able  to  bring  some 
censure  upon  him,  because,  as  chancellor,  he  had 
given  decrees,  in  several  instances, contrary  to  a  le* 
gal  process,  owing  to  a  quick  decision,  from  the 
sensibility  of  his  temper,  they  were  able  to  do  him 
considerable  injury.  Whether  it  was  owing  to  this, 
or  what  Hutchinson  suggests,  to  gratify  a  favourite 
who  wanted  the  government,  he  was  removed  from 
this  place,  to  Massachusetts,  on  the  accession  of 
George  H.  We  are  told  that  with  reluctance  he 
kit  New  York  ;  he  had  many  friends  among  the 
wise  and  patriotick,  who  equally  regretted  the  loss 
of  such  a  ruler. 

In  his  first  «-peech  to  the  Massachusetts  assembly, 
he  informed  them  of  his  instructions  to  insist  upon 
a  fixed  salary.  The  assembly  voted  a  sum  equal 
to  1000  pounds  sterling,  which  was  more  than  any 
governor  had  received  ;  and  also  made  him  several 
handsome  grants  towards  his  support,  and  the  ex- 
pences  of  his  journey.  These  he  accepted,  but  re- 
fused the  salary.      He  had  now  to  resist  the  argu- 


BUR  93 

ments  of  the  legislature,  and  the  tumult  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  people  of  Boston,  from  their  love  of  free- 
dom, were  against  a  permanent  salary.  They  dis- 
cussed the  subject  at  the  town  meeting  ;  on  this 
account  the  governor  adjourned  the  court  to  Salem. 

The  general  court,  directed  their  agent,  Francis 
Wilks,  esq.  to  make  application  to  his  majesty  to 
aiford  them  relief.  Mr.  Belcher  was  joined  with  him 
in  the  agency,  and  they  procured  all  the  aid  in  their 
power.  In  the  mean  time  the  house  became  impor- 
tunate for  their  pay  ;  but  the  governor  withheld  his 
warrant  from  the  treasury  ;  not  having  received  any 
himself,  he  thought  they  might  as  well  go  without 
theirs. 

The  election  for  counsellors,  A.  D.  1729,  was 
held  at  Salem.  During  this  session,  the  beginning 
of  August,  the  governor  communicated  to  the  house 
the  result  of  their  address  to  the  king,  which  was 
unfavourable  to  their  wishes.  The  same  month  he 
adjourned  them  to  Cambridge.  This  was  styled  a 
grievance  ;  but  the  death  of  the  governor  put  an 
end  to  all  further  disputes. 

The  31st  of  August  he  was  taken  with  a  shiver- 
ing fit  after  some  time  spent  in  fishing  on  Water- 
to  wii  pond  ;  he  did  not  confine  himself;  paroxisms 
of  fever  succeeded, which  terminated  in  a  coma.  He 
died,  Sept.  7,  1729.  The  pall  bearers,  at  his  fune- 
ral, were  lieut.  gov.  Dummer,  col  Taylor,  col. 
Winslow,  col.  Hutchinson,  col.  Brown,  and  col. 
Fitch.  The  rev.  Mr.  Price  preached  the  funeral 
sermon,  from  Eccles.  ii.  i7. 

'•'•  Gov.  Burnet  was  large  in  stature,  he  had  a  ma- 
jestick  port  and  countenance,  mixed  with  a  great 
deal  of  sweetness  ;  he  was  frank  and  open  in  his 
manners  ;  his  sagacity  penetrating  ;  of  ready  wit, 
and  sound  understanding  j  his  learning,  in  books 
and  manners,  which  he  had  improved  by  travelling 
over  f^urope,  enabled  him  to  suit  himself  to  the 
tempers  and  conversation  of  all  men.  He  was  a 
christian  upon  principle,  having  studied  under  such 


94  CAB 

men  as  his  father  and  sir  Isaac  Newton.  In  his 
youth  he  had  inclined  to  infidcHty,  but  afterwards 
become  a  scholar  in  sacred  as  well  as  profane  stu- 
dies." 

From  an  account  of  him  in  Chandler's  life  of  pre- 
sident Johnson,  we  should  suppose  he  was  an  in- 
quirer of  some  liberality.  He  persuaded  Johnson 
to  read  Whiston,  and  Dr.  Clark's  works,  "  so  that 
he  was  in  danger  of  becoming  an  Arian,  which  the 
governor  wished  him  to  be."  But  according  to 
other  accounts  there  appears  an  inconsistency.  For 
while  he  was  governor  of  Jersey  he  prepared  a 
bill  that  fixed  a  penalty  upon  all  who  denied  the  Sa- 
viour's divinity,  or  the  truth  ot  the  scriptures.  This 
was  more  pious  than  judicious.  It  might  have  pass- 
ed in  some  of  the  provinces,  but  here  the  Quakers 
had  an  inftuence  which  was  exerted  against  it. 

In  the  year  1724,  he  printed  an  ''  essay  on 
scripture  prophecies,"  which  is  a  work  of  ingei\ui- 
ty  as  well  as  piety,  the  result,  perhaps,  ot  his  in- 
quiries when  he  was  under  the  care  of  sir  Isaac 
i^ewton. 

While  he  was  governor  of  Massachusetts,  he  an- 
swered a  letter  of  a  popish  priest  in  Canada,  which 
contained  a  reflection  upon  the  first  reformers. 

These  works  praise  him,  are  really  curious  and 
worth  preserving. 

Cabot  Sebastian,  who  first  discovered  the 
continent  of  North  America,  was  the  son  of  John 
Cabot,  an  enterprising  navigator,  a  Venetian,  was 
born,  1467.  When  he  was  a  youth  he  made  seve- 
ral voyages  with  his  father,  and  brothers.  In  1552, 
he  projected  the  plan  of  the  first  voyage  of  the  Ln- 
glish  to  Russia,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  that  ex- 
tensive commerce  which  has  ever  since  been  carri- 
ed on  between  the  two  nations.  He  was  also  the 
first  who  took  notice  of  the  variation  of  the  needle. 
He  died,  .557.* 

*  r.'is  spring,  1496,  John  Cabota,  a  Venetian,  sails  with  two 
sh^ps  iiom  England,  sitters  westward,  discovers  the  shore  of  the 


C  A  L  96 

Calet  "Robert,  merchant,  in  the  town  of  Bos- 
ton, rendered  himself  famous  by  his  book  against 
witchcraft,  when  the  people  of  Massachusetts  were 
under  the  most  strange  kind  of  delusion.  The  na- 
ture of  this  crime,  so  opposite  to  all  common  tiense, 
has  been  said  to  exempt  the  accusers  from  observ- 
ing the  rules  of  common  sense.  This  was  evident 
from  the  trials  of  witches  at  Salem,  1692.  Mr.  Ca- 
lef  opposed  facts  in  the  simple  garb  of  truth  to  fan- 
ciful representations  ;  yet  he  offended  men  of  the 
greatest  learning  and  influence.  He  was  obliged  to 
enter  into  a  controversy,  which  he  managed  with 
boldness  and  address.  His  letters  and  defence  were 
printed  in  a  volume  in  London,  1700.  Dr.  Increase 
Mather,  was  then  president  of  Harvard  College  ;  he 
ordered  the  wicked  book  to  be  burnt  in  the  col- 
lege yard  ;  and  the  members  of  the  old  north  church 
published  a  defence  of  their  pastors,  the  rev.  Increase 
and  Cotton  Mather.  The  pamphlet  printed  on  this 
occasion  has  this  title  page,  *'  Remarks  upon  a  scan- 
dalous book,  against  the  government  and  ministry 
of  New  England,  written  by  Robert  Calef,"  &.c. 
Their  motto  was,  truth  will  come  off  conqueror, 
which  proved  a  satire  upon  themselves,  because  Ca- 
lef obtained  a  complete  triumph.  The  judges  of 
the  court,  and  jury  confessed  their  errors  ;  the  peo- 
ple were  astonished  at  their  own  delusion  ;  reason 
and  common  sense  were  evidently  on  Calef's  side  ; 
and  even  the  present  generation  read  his  book  with 
mingled  sentiments  of  pleasure  and  admiration.  A 
Hew  edition  was  printed  at  Salem,  1796.    It  is  wor- 

new  world,  in  45  degrees,  north  latitude,  sails  along  the  coast, 
northward,  to  60,  and  then  southward,  to  38,  some  say,  to  Cape 
Florida,  in  25,  and  returns  to  England,     Prince, 

D\\  Belknap,  also,  supposes  J.  Cabot  made  the  discovery  which 
ihe  European  writers  generally  ascribe  to  his  son  Sebastian.  He 
gave  a  good  reason,  that  Sebastian  was  only  20  years  old  ;  hence 
it  is  improbable  he  should  have  such  a  command.  Sebastian  and 
two  brothers  sailed  with  their  father  several  voyages.  It  may 
be  that  he  discovered  the  coast  while  aboard  of  his  father's  vessel, 
and  hence  the  credit  has  been  given  of  making  the  voyage  of 
discovery. 


9G  CAD 

thy  of  observation  that  Hutchin*son,  who  was  near» 
ly  reiated  to  the  M-ither  family,  speaks  of  U.  Calef, 
as  a  man  of  a  iair  mind,  who  bubstantiated  his  facts. 

Callender  John,  minister  of  a  Baptist  church 
m  Newport,  was  born  in  Boston  ;  educated  at  Har- 
vard College,  where  he  received  his  degree,  1723. 
He  was  ordained  at  Newport,  1731,  and  continued 
a  faithful  pastor  many  years  ;  and  still  appears  with 
great  lustre  among  the  worthies  who  have  lived  in 
this  country.  His  "  history  of  Rhode  Island,''  is 
full  of  information.  As  a  writer  he  is  liberal,  candid 
and  faithful ;  christians  of  all  denominations  may  be 
edified  by  his  pious  remarks,  ancl  all  who  read,  for 
the  sake  of  instruction,  may  gdin  knowledge  and  re- 
ceive entertainment.  This  work  was  first  preached  as 
a  century  sermon,  1738.  He  then  made  great  addi- 
tions, and  published  it  as  an  '^  historical  discourse  " 
The  book  is  now  very  scarce.  He  also  printed  an 
excellent  *'  funeral  sermon,"  which  he  preached  af- 
ter the  death  of  Mr.  Clap,  the  venerable  pastor  of  the 
first  Congregational  church. 

Mr  Callender  was  grandson  of  Ellis  Callender, 
who  joined  the  first  Baptist  church  in  Boston,  1669  ; 
and  was  a  leading  character  among  them  when  their 
meeting  was  nailed  up  by  authority,  1680.  He  w^a§ 
invited  to  the  pastoral  office,  1708,  and  died  in  1718. 
Elisha  Callender  his  son,  uncle  to  Mr.  C  of  New- 
port, who  was  graduated  atHarvard  College,  17 10, suc- 
ceeded him,  and  died,  1737.  He  was  ordained  by 
the  Congregational  ministers  of  Boston.*  Church 
Records,    Backus  History, 


♦  In  the  account  of  Boston,  4th  vol.  Histovic/al  Collections,  thje 
wiittr,  who  is  generally  very  accurate  and  heloneed  to  this  srci- 
ety,has  not  given  an  exact  statement  of  the  first  ministers,  if  Mr. 
Backus'  history  be  correct,  which  we  suppose  is  the  case  — -Com- 
pare Backus^  abridgement^  kc.  page  144.  there  is  l.owever  a 
considerable  nnstake  in  Mr  Backus  where  he  saith,  Mr  Klisha 
Callender  joined  the  church  in  1713,  •  after  which  lie  went  to 
Harvard  College,'*  Sec.  There  is  no  hlisha  Callr.'nder  in  thr 
college  catalogue,  except,  1710, 


CH  A  91 

Carver  ioK-i^.gouernour  of  Nenxi  Flymouth^  was 
one  of  the  inost  active,  useful  and  pious  men  of  Mr. 
Robinson's  chuf ch  while  they  were  at  Leyden  ;  and 
as  praiseworthy  while  he  lived  with  the  pilgrims  who 
first  planted  this  part  of  North  America.  Carver 
and  Cushman  were  the  agents  to  agree  with  the 
Virginia  company,  and  make  provision  for  their 
voyage.  The  particulars  of  this  voyage  and  of  the 
settlement  of  the  first  colony  in  New  England  are 
preserved  in  extracts  from  Bradford's  ms.  history, 
which  Mr.  Prince  made,  and  which  have  become 
more  valuable  as  the  ms.  is  lost.  Mr.  Carver  was  u- 
nanimously  elected  go vernour  as  soon  as  they  reached 
the  shore.  The  instrument  is  dated,  Nov  1 1,  1620,  at 
Cape  Cod.  No  man  could  have  conducted  more  wise- 
ly than  he  did  in  this  office  ;  he  was  firm,  prudent, 
zealous  for  the  good  of  the  settlement,  and  to  pro- 
mote virtue  and  piety  among  the  planters.  Unhap- 
pily for  those  who  valued  him  so  highly,  and  were 
allured  and  stimulated  by  his  example,  this  worthy 
man  and  excellent  magistrate  lived  a  short  time  on- 
ly with  them.  He  finished  his  pilgrimage  state,  and 
entered  into  his  rest,  5th  of  April,  1630.  "  He  was 
buried  with  all  the  honours  which  could  be  shown  by 
a  grateful  people.  The  men  were  under  arms,  and 
fired  several  voUies  over  his  grave.  His  affectionate 
wife,  overcome  by  her  loss,  survived  him  but  six 
Weeks.  One  of  his  grandsons  lived  to  be  102  years 
old.  In  1755,  he,  his  son,  his  grandson,  and  great 
grandson  were  one  day  working  in  the  field  togeth- 
er." A  town  in  the  county  of  Plymouth  has  late- 
ly had  the  name  of  Carver  given  to  it.  Prince. 
Belknap, 

Chauncy  Charles,  president  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, who  is  styled  in  the  Magnalia,  Cadmus  Ameri- 
canus,  was  born  in  Hertfordshire,  educated  in  the 
school  at  Westminster,  and  at  the  university  of 
Cambridge.  He  thet^e  took  the  degree  of  B.  D. 
Being  intimately  acquainted  with  archbishop  Ush- 
«r,  one  of  the  finest  scholars  in  Europe,  he  had  more 


DS  C  H  A 

than  common  advantages  to  exparid  his  mmd,  and 
make  improvements  in  literature.  A  more  learned- 
man  than  Mr.  Chauncy  was  not  to  be  found  among 
the  fathers  of  New  hngland.  He  had  been  chosen 
Hebrew  professor  at  Cambridge,  by  the  heads  of 
both  houses,  and  exchanged  this  branch  of  instruc- 
tion to  oblige  Dr.  Williams-,  'uice  chancellor  of  the 
university.  He  was  well  skilled  in  many  oriental, 
languages,  but  especially  the  Hebrew  which  he  knew 
by  very  close  study,  and  by  conversing  with  a  Jew, 
who  resided  at  the  same  houi-e. 

He  was  also  an  accurate  Greek  scholar,,  and  w^as 
made  professor  of  this  language  when  he  left  the 
other  professorship.  In  Leigh's  critica  sacra,  there 
is  a  latin  address  to  the  author  by  a  friend,  C.  C. 
who  is  called  Fir  doctiss'njius,  Sec.  It  is  a  commen- 
dation of  the  work  in  a  handsome  style.  This  un- 
common scholar  became  a  preacher,  and  w^as  settled 
at  M^are.  He  displeased  archbishop  Laud,  by  op- 
posing, the  book  of  sports, 4;rnd  reflecting  upon  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  church.  In  Riis/jfort/i^s  collections, 
there  is  this  passage.  "  Mr.  Chauncy  using  some 
expressions  in  his  sermons  which  were  construed  to 
his  disadvantage,  ex  :  g  :  That  idolatry  was  admit- 
ted into  the  church  ;  that  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel would  be  suppressed  ;  that  there  is  as  much  a- 
theism,  popery,  arminianism  and  heresy  crept  in, 
&c."  This  being  viewed  as  a  design  to  raise  a  fear 
among  the  people,  that  some  alteration  of  religion 
would  ensue,  he  was  questioned  in  the  high  com- 
mission ;  and  by  order  of  that  court,  the  cause 
w  as  referred  to  the  bishop  of  London,,  being  his  or- 
dinary, who  ordered  him  to  make  a  submission  in 
Latin. 

This  w^orthy  man  came  over  to  New  England,  in 
1638,  arriving  at  Plymouth,  Jan.  1st. 

He  was  soon  after  ordained  at  Scituate. — One 
thing  is  w^orth  mentioning  to  shew  the  spirit  of  the 
man,  and  the  quaint  maimer  of  expression  then  in 
use.     His  text  was,  Prov.  ix.  3.    IVisdom  hath  sent 


C  H  \  99 

forth  her  maidens^  and  alluding^  to  his  compliance 
with  the  high  commission  court,  he  said  with  tears, 
Alas  !  christians,  i  am  no  maiden,  my  soul  has 
been  defiled  "coith  false  ^worship ;  how  wondrous  is 
the  Jree  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christy  that  I 
should  still  be  empl  yed  among  the  maidens  of  wis- 
'dom  1  When  a  stop  was  put  to  th:  Laudean  persecu- 
tion  he  was  invited  back  by  his  former  people  art 
Ware ;  and  it  was  his  intention  to  spend  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  his  native  councry.  At  this 
time,  the  chair  of  the  president  was  vacant  at  Har- 
vard College.  He  was  requested  to  accept  it, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  performed  the  duties  of 
that  office  with  honour  to  himself,  and  to  the  repu- 
tation of  that  seminary  of  learning.  '*  How  learn- 
edly he  conveyed  all  the  liberal  arts  to  those  that  sa^l 
under  his  feet,  how  constantly  te  expounded  the 
scriptures  to  them  in  the  College  hall,  how  wittily 
lie  moderated  their  disputations  and  other  exercis- 
es, how  flnemly  he  expressed  himself  unto  them, 
with  Latin  of  a  Terentian  phrase,  in  all  his  discours- 
es, and  how  carefully  he  inspected  their  manners, 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  many  of  our  most  wor- 
thy men,  who  were  made  such  by  their  education 
under  him."  When  he  made  his  oration  on  his 
inauguration  he  concluded  it  thus,  '*  Doctiorem, 
certe  prasidem,  and.huic  oneri  ac  stationi  nuiltis 
modis  aptiorem,  vobis  facile  licet  invenire  ;  sed 
amantiorem,  et  vestri  boni  studiosiorem,  non  inve- 
nietis." 

He  was  very  industrious,  and  usually  employed 
this  morning  hours  in  study  or  devotion.  He  con- 
stantly rose  at  4  o'clock,  winter  and  summer.  In 
the  morning  he  expounded  a  chapter,  in  the  old  tes- 
tament, unto  the  students  assembled  in  the  chapel; 
and  in  the  evening  expounded  a  passage  in  the  new 
testament.  Every  Sunday  he  preached  a  sermon 
instead  of  the  morning  exposition  Yet  with  all 
his  zeal,  attention  to  his  business  and  to  his  private 
studies,  with  his  amazing  appiication  to  every  thing 


100  C  H  A 

that  was  before  him,  he  lived  to  be  famous,  and 
preached  to  much  acceptance  at  an  age,  to  which 
few  reach,  and  they  complain  "  their  strength  is  la- 
bour and  sorrow."  When  his  friends  advised  him 
to  remit  his  publick  labours,  he  answered,  "  oportet 
imperato  mori  stantem." 

At  length,  on  the  commencement,  of  1771,  he 
made  a  solemn  address,  a  kind  of  valedictory  ora- 
tion ;  and  having  lived  to  some  good  purpose,  he 
prepared  to  die  in  peace,  like  a  good  servant  who 
expected  his  reward.  He  died  the  end  of  this  year 
etat  82,  having  been  iibout  16  years  pastor  of  the 
church  in  hcituate,  and  1 7  years  president  of  Har- 
vard College. 

He  was  a  man  very  hasty  in  his  temper  :  of  this 
he  was  sensible  and  took  great  pains  to  govern  it. 

President  Oakes,  who  was  minister  of  the  church 
in  Cambridge  and  succeeded  him  as  head  of  the 
same  litt  rary  society,  preached  his  funeral  sermon, 
and  makes  some  apology  for  the  quickness  of  his 
temper, — "  the  mention  thereof  wdiS  to  be  wrapped 
up  in  Elijah's  mantle.'* 

President  C  left  six  sons,  all  of  whom  were  ed- 
ucated at  Harvard  College,  'i  hey  were  all  preach- 
ers. Some  of  them  very  learned  divines.  Dr. 
Mather  says,  they  were  all  eminent  physicians,  as 
their  lather  was  before  thenu  In  a  new  country, 
where  there  are  no  physicians,  a  minister  who  is  a 
scientifick  man,  may  render  himself  eminently  use- 
ful if  able  to  practice  physick  ;  but  we  are  not  of 
the  opinion  of  this  gentleman  that  there  ought  to  be 
no  distinction  between  physick  and  divinity.  One 
man  had  better  not  be  engaged  in  more  than  his 
own  profession,  he  may  be  learned  in  one  thing, 
and  superficial  in  another — a  learned  theolo- 
gian and  a  quack  doctor,  as  we  have  seen  in  modern 
times. 

The  epitaph  of  president  C,  upon  his  tombstone  is 
ill  the  Magnalia. 


C  H  A  lOl 

Condi  turn 

hie  est  Corpus 

Caroli  Chauncei 

S.  S.  Theologix  Baccalaur, 

Et 

Collee:ii  Harvardini  Nov.  Angl. 

Per  XVII    \nnorum  spalium 

Prasidis  Vigilantissimi, 

Viri  plane  Iniergerrimi, 

Concionatoris  Eximii, 

Pietate 

Pariter  ac  Libfi'ari  Eruditione 

Ornatissimi. 
Quiobiii  in  Domino,  Feb.  xix. 

An.  Dom.  MDCi.XXI. 
Et  i^ta-is  .;x.  LCLXXXIK* 
Chauncy  Charles,  pastor  of  the  first  church  in 
Boston,  was  a  great  grandson  of  president  Chauncy, 
and  had  much  of  the  genius  and  spirit  of  his  ancestor. 
He  was  born,  Jan.  E >t,  1705.  His  father,  the  youngest 
son  of  the  rev.  Isaac  Chauncy,  Berry  street,  settled 
in  Boston,  as  a  merchant.  Ch.ales  was  only  seven 
years  old  when  his  father  died  ;  but  had  friends, 
who  were  disposed  to  give  him  every  advantage  of 
education.    At  twelve  years  old  he  was  sent  to  Har- 

*  President  Chauncy's  sons  were  settled  in  different  parts 
of  the  world.  Isaac,  the  eldest,  was  pastor  of  the  church 
in  Berry  street,  London.  Dr.  Watts  was  chosen  his  as- 
sistant in  1698,  and  succeeded  him  in  1701.  Ichabod  the 
second  son,  was  chaplain  of  a  regiment  at  Dunkirk.  rhe«e 
sons  were  graduated,  1651.  Nathaniel  was  mmister  of  Hat* 
field,  and  Israel  of  Stratford.  They  were  graduated,  1661. 
Also  Elnathan  who  was  a  preacher,  but  never  settled  It  is  pro- 
bable that  he  and  his  brother  Barnabas  who  took  his  degree,  1657, 
died  young.  Israel  lived  longer  than  the  others  ;  he  was  the 
youngest  son,  and  died  after  the  commencement  of  the^eighteenth 
century.  His  ordination  has  generally  been  styled  the  leather 
mitten  ordination,  and  much  ridicule  has  been  thrown  upon  it  by 
Episcopal  writers.  The  fact  was,  that  when  he  was  settled  the 
laymen  of  the  council  insisted  upon  their  right  ^  of  laying  on 
hands,'*  and  one  of  the  brethren  forgot  to  take  off  his  mitten  ; 
hence  it  has  been  made  to  appear  as  a  ludicrous  circumstance  to 
lessen  the  solemnity  of  the  Congregational  mode  of  separating 
ministers.  It  was  not  long  after  this,  that  in  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts,  the  clergy  deprived  the  brethren  of  this  privilege. 
But  could  we  now  refuse  them  if  they  insisted  upon  it  ? 


iU2  tJHA 

^ard  College  ;  was  graduated,  1721,  and  considered 
us  one  of  the  best  scholars  who  had  ever  received 
the  honours  of  that  seminary.  It  afforded  great  plea- 
sure to  wise  and  good  men  of  those  times  to  see  a 
'descendant  of  that  president,  who  had  done  so  much 
honour  to  New  England,  come  into  life  with  such 
high  recommendations  ;  and  their  hopes  were  high- 
ly gratified  when  he  made  divinity  his  siudy.  As  soon 
as  Mr.  Wadsworth  was  removed  from  the  first  churcli, 
to  preside  at  Cambridge,  the  eyes  of  that  people  were 
fixed  upon  this  young  man,  and  he  was  associated 
with  Mr.  Foxcroft  in  the  work  ot  the  ministry.  He 
was  ordained,  1727,  Mr.  Foxcroft  and  he  were 
-colleague  pastors  for  about  40  years.  After  the 
death  of  his  colleague,  he  performed  the  whole  pa- 
rochial duty  nearly  ten  years.  In  June,  1778,  the 
rev.  Mr.  John  Clark  was  settled  with  him,  whom  he 
treated  as  a  son,  and  who  was  always  sensible  of  his 
paternal  regards.  Dr.  Chauncy  v^^as  one  of  the 
greatest  divines  in  New  Kngland  ;  no  one  except 
president  Edwards,  and  the  late  Dr.  Mayhew,  has 
been  so  much  known  among  the  literati  of  Europe, 
or  printed  more  books  upon  theological  subjects. 
He  took  great  delight  in  studying  the  scriptures. 
Feeling  .the  sacred  obligations  of  morality,  he  im- 
pressed them  upon  the  minds  of  others  in  the  most 
rational  and  evangelical  manner.  When  he  preach- 
ed upon  the  faith  of  the  gospel,  he  reasoned  of  right- 
eousness, temperance  and  a  judgment  to  come.  It 
was  said  that  he  wanted  the  graces  of  delivery,  and 
taste  in  composition.  But  it  was  his  object  to  ex- 
hibit the  most  sublime  truths  in  simplicity  of  speech, 
and  he  never,  therefore,  studied  to  have  his  periods 
polished,  or  his  style  adorned  with  rhetorical  figures. 
His  favourite  authors  were,  Tillotson  of  the  episco- 
pal church,  and  Baxter  among  the  puritans.  For 
lie  preferred  the  rich  vein  of  sentiment  in  the  ser- 
•mons  of  the  English  divines,  to  that  tinsel  oiFrcnck 
declamation  so  fashionable  in  our  modern  way  of 
preachinj^.      Upon  some  occasions,   however,  Dr^ 


e  H  A  lOG 

Chauncy  could  raise  his  feeble  vioce,  and  manifest 
a  vigour  and  animation,  which  would  arrest  the  at- 
tention of  the  most  careless  hearer,  and  have  a 
deeper  effect,  than  the  oratory  which  is  thought  by 
many  to  be  irresistibly  persuasive  :  at  ail  times,  he 
was  argumentative  and  perspicuous,  and  made  an 
admirable  practical  use  of  the  sentiments  he  deliv- 
ered. 

But  it  is  as  an  author  we  are  chiefly  to  view  Dr, 
Chauncy  in  this  biographical  sketch.  His  clear 
head,  his  quick  conception,  and  comprehensive  view 
of  every  subject  enabled  him  to  write  with  ease  and 
propriety.  However  quick,  and  sudden,  and  un- 
guarded in  his  expressions  when  discussing  things 
in  conversation,  he  reasoned  coolly  in  all  his  con- 
troversial writings.  His  ideas  were  so  well  arrang- 
ed, and  he  had  such  a  command  of  them,  that  he 
managed  every  subject  with  equal  candour,  liberali- 
ty, fairness  and  skill.  In  the  episcopal  controversy 
he  obtained  great  celebrity.  He  first  began  this  in 
a  "•  sermon  upon  the  validity  of  presbyterian  ordina- 
tion.  "preached  at  the  Dudleian  lecture, at  Cambridge^ 
1762.  In  1767  he  wrote  his  remarks  upon  a  ser- 
mon of  the  bishop  of  Landaff.  In  1771  he  printed 
a  complete  view  of  episcopacy,  ''  the  two  first  centu- 
ries." Beside  these,  he  had  a  particular  controversy 
upon  the  subject  of  the  American  episcopate  ;  he 
wrote  '*  an  appeal  to  the  publick  answered  in  be- 
half of  non  episcopal  churches"  when  Dr.  Chandler 
of  Elizabethtown,  offered  his  '*  appeal  to  the  pub- 
lick,"  in  favour  of  episcopal  churches  ;  to  this  Dr. 
Chandler  wrote  an  answx^r  styled,  '*  the  appeal  de- 
fended," &c.  Dr.  C  hauncy  made  a  reply  to  the 
appeal  defended,  and  to  this  Dr,  Chandler  also  re- 
plied in  another  large  pamphlet. 

In  the  Whitejleldian  controversy, Dr.  Chauncy  dis- 
eovered  more  zeal  than  in  his  other  works.  In  1742 
and  1743  he  published  a  "  sermon  on  the  various 
gifts  of  ministers  ;"  one  upon  '*  enthusiasm,"  and 
another  on  the  "  outpourings  of  the  Holy  Ghost  ;'* 


104  CHE 

he  also  printed  an  **  account  of  the  French  prophets,'* 
and  *'  seasonable  thoughts  on  the  state  of  religion." 
At  the  time  of  the  great  revival  of  religion,  there 
were  certain  things  of  a  dangerous  tendency  ming- 
led with  it,  which  the  Dr.  saw  fit  to  correct.  It 
makes  an  octavo  volume  in  five  parts,  and  by  the 
list  of  subscribers,  we  find  he  was  encouraged  by 
many  worthy  ministers  who  differed  from  him  in 
their  doctrinal  sentiments.  His  other  large  works 
are,  *'  twelve  sermons  on  seasonable  and  important 
subjects,"  chiefly  upon  justification,  in  opposition 
to  the  opinion  of  Robert  Sandiman,  1765  ;  the 
**  mystery  hid  from  ages,  or  the  salvation  of  all 
men;"  *'  dissertations  upon  the  benevolence  ot  the 
Deity  ;"  these  were  printed  1784,  and  the  next  year 
he  printed  a  volume  *'  on  the  fall  of  man  and  its 
consequences." 

In  1 742,  he  received  his  diploma  from  the  univer- 
sity of  Edinburgh,  the  first  from  that  seminary  to 
an  American  divine.  He  was  also  one  of  the  Lon- 
don board  of  commissioners  for  propagating  the 
gospel  among  the  Indians ;  and  a  corresponding 
member  of  the  board  in  Scotland.  His  health, 
cheerfulness,  activity  and  the  powers  of  his  mind 
continued  to  old  age.  He  died,  Feb.  10,  1787.  Mr. 
Clarke  preached  his  funeral  sermon.* 

Checkley  John,  minister  of  the  Episcopal 
church  in  Providence,  was  born  in  Boston,  of  Eng^ 
lish  parentage.  He  had  no  brother,  and  only  one 
sister  who  died  at  the  age  of  1 7.  The  early  part  of 
his  education  he  received  at  the  grammar  school  in 

•  In  the  life  of  literary  men,  there  are  few  incidents  very  re- 
markable. The  notice  of  them  must  be  an  account  of  their 
works,  the  progress  of  their  studies,  and  the  fruits  of  then'  labour. 
Such  a  memoir  of  Chauncy  would  make  a  vohime.  and  we  hope 
will  soon  be  given  to  the  publick  by  the  pastor  of  the  first  church, 
a  gentleman  who  is  very  able  to  delineate  the  characters  of  his 
predecessors.  The  Dr.  pnnted  many  occasional  sermons.  Ten 
upon  funerul  occasions  ;  several  at  tlu-  ordination  of  ministers  ; 
a  sermon  at  the  annual  convention,  1744  ;  the  election  sermons 
1747.     He  also  left  a  number  of  mss.  upon  theological  subjects. 


CHE  105 

Boston,  then  under  the  care  of  the  famous  Ezekiel 
Cheever,  but  afterwards  he  was  sent  to  England, 
and  finished  his  studies  at  the  university  of  Oxford. 
He  travelled  over  a  great  part  of  Europe,  and  col- 
lected some  valuable  curiosities,  such  as  paintings, 
mss.  &c.  He  procured  a  valuable  Hebrew  bible, 
elegantly  written  on  vellum,  which,  if  it  could  now 
be  obtained,  might  be  of  some  use,  as  well  as  an 
object  of  curiosity.  When  he  returned  from  Eng- 
land he  married  the  sister  of  the  rev.  Dr.  Miller, 
episcopal  missionary  at  Braintree,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  John  and  Rebecca.  After  this  he  went 
to  England  for  orders.  The  bishop  of  London  re- 
fused to  ordain  him,  on  account  of  his  being  a  non- 
juror^ and  a  remonstrance  against  him,  signed  by 
several  of  the  clergy  of  New  England,  who  repre- 
sented that  he  was  rather  an  eccentrick  character, 
than  a  man  of  serious  deportment.  He  received  or- 
dination some  years  after,  and  in  the  year  1739  was 
fixed  at  Providence,  having  under  his  care  the 
ijhurch  in  that  town,  and  the  small  assemblies  at 
Warwick  and  Attleborough,  to  whom  he  preached 
once  a  month.  He  was  a  very  excellent  linguist ; 
was  well  acquainted  with  four  languages  besides  the 
vernacular,  Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin  and  Indian,  which 
rendered  him  a  companion  for  learned  and  curious 
men,  all  of  whom  were  fond  of  the  company  of  John 
Checkley,  though  some  were  offended  with  his 
opinions  ;  and  others  thought  him  too  much  of  a 
wag,  for  an  intimate  acquaintance.  Anecdotes  con- 
cerning him  were  constantly  repeated  by  people  of 
the  last  generation,  when  a  company  wished  to  be 
entertained  with  witty  stories,  or  ludicrous  tricks  ; 
many  of  these  were,  doubtless  without  foundation, 
but  they  mark  the  character  of  the  man.  One  thing 
is  true  attested  by  his  own  writing.  He  was  tried 
at  the  supreme  court,  held  in  Boston,  Nov.  27, 
1724,  for  "  publishing  and  selling  a  false  and  scan- 
dalous libel,"  for  which  he  was  fined  fifty  pounds, 
to  stand    committed  until   sentence   be   perform- 

p 


106  CHE 

ed.*  Upon  this  trial  he  made  a  speech  in  defence 
of  himself,  which  he  afterwards  published  in  Eng- 
land. In  this  pamphlet,  he  also  printed  '*the  ju- 
ry's verdict;  his  plea  in  arrest  of  judgment  and 
the  sentence  of  the.  court.*'  The  conclusion  of  his 
plea  is  these  words,  "  The  dissenters  are  affirmed  to 
be  no  ministers  ;  to  be  schismaticks,  and  excommu- 
nicate by  the  laws  of  England.^  which  are  part  of  the 
law  of  the  land  ;  and  therefore  to  say  the  same  things 
of  them,  I  humbly  hope  shall  not  be  deemed,  a  liheL^"^ 
After  Mr.  Chcckley  resided  at  Providence,  his 
character  was  respectable  as  a  divine,  as  well  as  a 

*  Tho  book  alluded  to,  had  this  title,  "  A  short  and  easy  meth- 
od with  the  Deists.  To  wliich  was  added,  a  discourse  concerning 
episcopacy,  in  defence  of  chrmianity^  and  the  church  of  Ung- 
land^  againsts  the  Dtists  and  Dis&cnters.*' 

The  latter  part  was  liis  own  work,  in  which  he  made  a  viru- 
lent attack  upon  the  clergy,  and  people  of  New  hngland,  and 
threw  sonrie  rude  glances  at  the  family  on  the  throne  of  Great 
Ih'itain. 

In  the  diary  of  Mr.  Barnard  of  Marblehaad,  he  saj  s,  a  letter 
was  written  to  Bishop  Gibson,  declaring  the  true  character  oi" 
John  Checkley, ''  that  he  was  a  hitter  enemy  to  other  denomina- 
tions, a  non-juror,  and  that  he  had  not  a  liberal  education.  He  de- 
sired Mr.  Newman,  our  province  agent,  to  acquaint  the  gentle- 
man that  he  never  would  ordain  a  person  disagreeable  to  the  peo- 
ple, but  would  fix  at  Marblehead  a  good  man,  loyal  to  the 
government,  and  of  a  catholick  temper."  The  letter  was  sign- 
ed by  Mr.  Barnard,  and  Mr.  Holyoke,  ministers  of  that  town, 
where  Mr.  Checkley  meant  to  fix  his  residence.  "The  bishop 
of  London  read  this  letier  to  gov.  Shute,  and  inquired  of  him, 
concerning  the  state  of  New  England,  who  confirmed  all  which 
had  been  written.  The  bishop  of  Exeter  afterwards  ordained 
Mr.  Checkley,  and  he  was  sent  to  Narrtigansett." 

A  pamphlet  was  printed,  1727,  in  Boston,  called  a  modest 
"  proof  of  the  order  of  the  churches,"  This  gave  rise  to  the 
first  controversy  upon  the  subject  of  episcopacy,  was  anony-r 
mous,  but  supposed  to  be  written  by  J.  Checkley.  Dr.  Wiggles- 
worth,  professor  of  divinity,  answered  it  by  "  sober  remarks  up- 
on modest  proof."  There  was  also  another  answer  by  Martin 
Mar,  Prelate. 

Besides  these  pamphlets,  Mr.  Checkley  wrote  a  small  tract 
u^ovi  fire  destination  J  against  the  general  ideas  of  the  people  of  this 
country.  Mr.  Thomas  Walter,  a  yourtg  man,  an  intimate  friend 
of  Checkley,  wrote  an  answer  to  it,  and  defended  t'e  Calvinis- 
tick  doctrine.   These  pamphlets  were  published  in  the  year  1715. 


CHE  107 

scholar  ;  he  was,  however,  bigotted  to  his  own  no- 
tions, and  took  pleasure  m  making  puritans  of  vari- 
ous denominations  feel  his  satirical  goads.  He  was 
likewise  of  the  opinion  that  a  prince  of  the  Hanove- 
rian line  ought  not  to  sit  upon  the  British  throne  ; 
imd  also  that  no  one  could  be  completely  virtuous, 
if  he  \iiere  not  a  high  churchman.  He  died  1753, 
aged  7S. 

Mn  C.  had  two  children.  A  son  who  was  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College,  1738;  he  studied  divini^ 
ty  with  his  father,  went  to  England  for  orders,  and 
died  of  the  small  pox.  His  talents  were  excellent 
and  he  was  a  most  amiable  youth.  The  daughter 
married  Henry  Paget,  an  Irish  gentleman.  She  left 
three  children,  two  of  them  are  living  at  this  time, 
united  to  very  respectable  connexions. 

Cheever  Ezekiel,  preceptor  of  the  latin  gram- 
mar school,  Boston,  came  to  New  England,  A.  D. 
1637.  He  kept  a  grammar  school  in  this  country 
above  seventy  years.  He  in  the  first  place  fixed  at 
New  Haven  ;  was  then  invited  to  Ipswich,  in  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  he  removed  from  this  place  to  Charles- 
town  ;  and  from  the  year  1670,  to  his  death,  was 
preceptor  of  the  school  in  Boston.  He  died,  A.  D. 
1708,  aged  94..  Many  of  the  sons  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege received  the  rudiments  of  their  education  from 
him.  His  accidence  was  taught  in  most  of  the 
schools  till  the  revolution.  In  1768,  the  twentieth 
edition  was  printed.  He  published  also,  a  book 
*' upon  the  scriptures  prophecies,"  which  is  now 
very  scarce.  His  praise  was  in  all  the  churches  ; 
he  was  highly  respected  by  the  magistrates  of  the 
colony,  and  venerated  by  the  people.  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather  preached  his  funeral  sermon. 

Cheever  Samuei.,  minister  of  Marblehead,  was 
son  of  the  preceptor.  He  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1659  ;  ordained  at  Marblehead,  1684  ; 
and  died  1724,  aged  85.  His  colleague  speaks  of 
him  among  the  celebrated  divines  of  New  England, 
"  A  man  furnished  with  good  abilities,  both  natur- 
al and  acquired ;    a  constant  and  zealous  preach- 


108  C  H  U 

er."*  The  family  were  remarkable  for  longevit)'. 
Thomas,  the  second  son  of  the  famous  preceptor, 
lived  to  the  age  of  93.  He  took  his  degree,  1677, 
and  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Riimney  Marsli, 
nov  called  Chelsea,  Suftolk  county. 

There  were  several  other  branches  of  this  flimily, 
who  arrived  at  ninety  or  above  four  score  years. f 

Church  Benjamin,  a  celebrated  commander  of 
the  New  England  forces,  was  born  at  Duxbury, 
1639.  His  father,  whose  name  was  Joseph,  came 
into  this  country  for  the  sake  of  religious  freedom. 
Benjamin  was  the  eldest  of  three  sons,  of  a  vigorous 
constitution,  brave  as  a  soldier,  and  a  well  disposed 
member  of  society.  When  the  country  was  alarm- 
ed with  the  preparations  of  Philip  of  Mount  Hope 
he  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  vigilant  of  those 
who  opposed  his  measures,  and  headed  the  party 
w^hich  surrounded  that  bold  sachem  when  he  was 
killed. 

In  his  own  simple  manner  he  relates  the  circum- 
stances which  led  him  into  the  field  when  he  was 
appointed  to  a  command.  ''  I  vt^as  then  building 
and  beginning  a  plantation  at  a  place  called  by  the 
Indians  Sogkonate^  and  since  by  the  English,  Little 
Compton,  I  was  the  first  Englishman  that  built  up- 
on that  neck,  which  was  full  of  Indians.  My  head 
and  hands  were  full  about  settling  a  new  plantation 
where  nothing  w^as  brought  to  ;  no  preparation  of 
dwelling  house,  or  outhouses,  or  fencing  made. 
Horses  and  cattle  were  to  be  provided,  ground  to  be 
cleared  and  broken  up,  and  the  utmost  caution  us- 
ed,  to  keep  myself  from  offending  my  Indian  neigh- 

•  Historical  Collection,  vol.  X. 

t  A  daughter  of  Mr.  Cheever,  of  Chelsea,  died  in  Boston, 
1778,  at  the  3£^e  of  88.  She  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Burt, 
goldsmith.  They  had  two  sons  ;  Benjamin,  wlio  loiiowed  his 
father's  business,  and  Jolm^  who  had  a  college  education,  was 
graduated,  1736,  and  ordained  at  Bristol,  Rhode  Island.  He  was 
sick  when  that  town  was  burnt  by  the  British  men  of  war,  and 
attempting  lo  escape  the  danger,  he  fell  down  dead  in  his  field. 


C  H  U  109 

bours  all  around  me.  While  I  was  thus  busily 
employed,  and  all  my  strength  laid  out  in  this  labo- 
rious undertaking,  I  received  a  commission  from 
the  government  to  engage  in  their  defence."  He 
kept  a  journal  of  his  military  exploits,  which  is  a 
very  good  history  of  the  war,  so  far  as  he  was  en- 
gaged in  it.  This  was  published  afterwards  in  a 
quarto  pamphlet  by  his  son  ;  a  second  edition  of 
which  appeared  in  1772.  Hutchinson  speaks  of 
colonel  Church  as  a  ''fortunate  officer;"  Hub- 
bard had  before  described  him,  *'  both  prudent  and 
brave."  The  account  is  very  entertaining,  which 
is  given  of  his  skilful  mode  of  fighting,  and  the 
various  attacks  he  made  upon  the  enemy.  Philip 
was  a  formidable  adversary  to  the  New  England 
setdements  ;  he  had  great  address  in  stirring  up  the 
resentment  of  all  the  Indian  tribes  against  the  white 
people,  and  was  always  ready  to  expose  his  life 
when  it  could  be  of  any  advantage  ;  but  he  was 
hunted  upon  the  mountains  and  through  the  for- 
ests, and  was  never  able  to  meet  the  English  in  a 
regular  battle.  He  is  represented  as  cruel,  treach- 
erous, subtle,  full  of  malice,  but  his  enemies  bring 
this  account ;  he  had  no  friend  to  give  a  narrative 
of  his  exploits.  Could  he  speak,  he  might  tell  of  his 
brave  actions,  his  zeal  for  his  nation  whom  the  white 
people  oppressed,  till  they  drove  him  to  extremity. 
The  last  account  of  him  is,  ''  that  after  a  years  ab- 
sence he  returned  to  Mount  Hope,  where  the  In- 
dians were  gathering  to  him,  but  he  soon  lost  his 
fricndsj  his  family  were  taken  prisoners,  and  he  him- 
self escaped  by  running  into  a  swamp."  There  he 
was  killed,  August  12,  1776.  Capt.  Church  com- 
manded the  party,  but  he  was  shot  by  one  of  his 
own  men  whom  he  had  offended,  and  who  had  de- 
serted from  him.  After  peace  was  made  with  the 
Indians,  capt.  Church  resided  at  Bristol,  and  then 
settled  at  Seconet. 

In  1692,  he  was  again  called    into    service.     He 
was  sent  against  the  eastern  Indians,  took  a  number 


no  CHU 

of  prisoners,  and  burned  their  fort  on  Kennebeck 
river.  Four  years  after  this  he  commanded  five  hun- 
dred men,  and  sailed  from  Portsmouth  for  Penob- 
scot, and  not  finding  the  enemy,  he  reconnoitred 
the  coasts,  and  took  a  view  of  Nova  Scotia,  but 
upon  his  coming  to  Chignecto,  the  French  inhabi- 
tants fled,  and  the  English  plundered  and  burnt 
their  houses.  This  was  said  to  be  done  without 
the  consent  of  the  commander.  It  was  his  object 
rather  to  pursue  the  Indians.  He  was  superseded, 
and  the  command  given  to  col.  Hawthorne  of  Sa- 
lem, This  was  resented  by  Church,  and  Mr. 
Hutchinson  speaks  of  it  as  an  impolitick  measure. 
In  1704,  there  was  another  expedition  against  No- 
va Scotia,  and  the  command  given  to  col.  Church, 
the  bravest  and  most  experienced  officer  in  Massa- 
chusetts colony. 

This  expedition  was  a  favourite  measure  of  gov. 
Dudley,  and  in  his  speech  to  the  assembly  he  says, 
that  "  it  struck  a  terror  to  the  Indians,  and  was 
the  means  of  preserving  the  frontiers."  But  he 
was  blamed  for  it.  It  is  one  of  the  articles  of 
charge  against  him  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Mather,  wrote 
to  him,  1710.*  Col.  Church  lived  the  rest  of  his 
days  in  easy  circumstances.  He  died  Jan.  17, 
1718,  having  a  fall  from  his  horse,  which  broke  a 
blood  vessel.  He  lies  buried  in  Little  Compton* 
On  his  tomb  ston€  is  this  inscription. 

Here  lies  interred  the  body 

of  the  honourable 

Col.  Benjamin  Chukch,  Esq. 

who  departed  this  life, 

Jan.  ir,   1717,  18, 

in  the  78lh  year  of  his  age. 

His  character  is  thus  given  by  those  who  knew 
him  well.  '*  A  man  of  integrity,  justice  and  up- 
rightness, of  piety  and  serious  religion.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  church  of  Bristol  at  its  foundation. 

*  See  4th  vol.  Hist.  Coll.  where  the  letters  to  the  governor  are 
printed  from  the  original  mss.  of  Dr.  Increase  and  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather-o 


CHU  111 

Constant  in  family  worship,  exemplary  in  observ- 
ing the  sabbath,  and  attending  the  ordinances  of  the 
sanctuary.  He  lived  regularly,  and  left  an  exam- 
ple worthy  the  imitation  of  his  posterity.  He  was 
a  friend  to  the  civil  and  religious  liberties  of  his 
country,  and  greatly  rejoiced  in  the  revolution. 
He  was  col.  of  the  militia  in  the  county  of  Bristol, 
The  several  offices  of  civil  and  military  trust,  with 
which  he  was  invested  from  time  to  time,  through 
a  long  life,  he  discharged  with  fidelity  and  useful- 
ness." History  of  1:0  arnvith  Philip,  Hutchinson^s 
History  of  Massachusetts  bay. 

Church  Benjamin,  physician  in  the  town  of 
Boston,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1754, 
He  rose  to  eminence  in  his  profession,  while  he 
made  a  figure  among  the  leading  whigs,  in  the  years 
preceding  the  revolution.  He  had  genius  and  taste, 
and  was  an  excellent  writer  in  poetry  and  prose.  Of 
his  poetical  pieces  there  remain  some  which  are  now 
read  with  pleasure.  The  '*  elegy  upon  Dr.  Ma- 
hew,"  who  died  1766.  And  the  *'  elegy  upon  Mr. 
Whitefield,"  1770,  are  serious  and  pathetick.  The 
*'  elegy  upon  the  times"  printed  in  the  year  1765, 
is  rather  satirical ;  but  breathes  the  spirit  which  an- 
imated the  patriots  of  that  day.  The  poem  No, 
XI.  in  the  collection,  styled  *'  Pietas  et  Gratula- 
tio,"  in  the  opinion  of  the  monthly  reviewers,  had 
the  preference  of  the  others.  His  prose  writings 
were  mostly  essays  of  a  witty  and  philological  kind, 
which  are  scattered  in  ephemeral  publications, 
though  some  of  them,  perhaps,  are  known  by  those 
who  were  contemporary  with  him.  The  oration 
on  the  5th*  March,  which  he  pronounced  before  the 
town,  1773,  discovers  a  rich  fancy  ;  it  is  certainly 
one  of  the  very  best  of  the  ''  Boston  orations." 
When  the  war  commenced  in  1775,  his  character  was 
so  high,  that  he  was  appointed  physician  general  of 
the  army.  This  place  was  first  offered  to  Dr.  War- 
ren, but  he  chose  a  more  active  scene,  and  had  H 


112  CLA 

commission  as  major  general.  Dr.  Church  was 
thought  the  next  meritorious  character  for  that  sta- 
tion. But  while  he  was  performing  the  duties  as- 
signed him,  he  was  suspected  of  a  correspondence 
with  the  enemy.  Certain  letters  in  cypher,  were 
intercepted  which  he  had  written  to  a  relation  in 
Boston.  He  was  dismissed  from  his  post,  impris- 
oned and  tried.  At  his  trial  he  made  a  defence 
which  required  talents  to  write,  but  which  gave  no 
satisfaction  to  the  people.* 

Nothing  indeed  could  then  stem  the  torrent  of 
their  prejudices.  Individuals,  hovvever,  were  in 
doubt  whether  he  meant  evil,  and  nothing  very  trea- 
cherous appeared  in  the  letter.  The  crime  was  in 
holding  such  a  secret  correspondence. 

In  the  year  succeeding,  he  obtained  leave  to  de- 
part for  the  West  Indies.  No  intelligence  has  ever 
been  received  of  the  vessel  in  which  he  sailed. 

Clap  Nathaniel,  minister  of  the  first  Congre- 
gational church  in  Newport,  a  descendant  from  one 
of  the  first  planters  of  Massachusetts,  was  born  in 
Dorchester,  1668.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  1690,  and  while  he  was  young,  his  praise 
was  in  the  churches  for  his  piety,  learning,  and  ex- 
cellent pulpit  talents.  He  began  to  preach  in  New- 
port, 1695,  and  in  the  midst  of  many  discourage- 
ments became  the  pastor  of  the  first  Congregational 
church,  planted  in  Rhode  Island.  Few  of  this  de- 
nomination had  settled  in  that  colony.  All  the  lead- 
ing characters  were  either  Quakers  or  Baptists;  and 
their  prejudices  were  strong  against  the  order  of  the 
churches,  and  the  ministers,  of  Massachusetts. 
Mr.  Clap  had  a  zeal  to  do  good,  and  so  very  little 
of  a  party  spirit,  that  he  gained  the  esteem  and  af- 
fection of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  although  dif- 
fering in  religious  opniions.  The  Congregational 
church,  however,  was  not  formed  till  the  year  1720. 
He  was  ordained  their  pastor,  Nov.  3d,  of  the  same 

*  This  speech  is  published  in  the  first  volume  of  the  collections 
of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 


C  L  A  113 

year.  A  few  years  after,  a  young  man  of  talents 
preached  among  them,  who  became  remarkably  po- 
pular, so  as  to  draw  away  the  majority  of  the  people. 
Thev  would  have  consented  that  Mr.  Clap  should 
remain  as  the  senior  pastor  ;  but  he  chose  to  leave 
them  rather  than  to  have  an  associate  whom  he 
could  not  approve.  Another  church  was  built  in 
the  town,  with  whom  he  continued  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  The  interest  the  people  of  Newport  took 
in  his  favour  during  his  trouble  was  very  lively. 
The  ministers  who  went  from  Boston,  and  caused 
the  separation  of  the  society,  met  with  a  cold  recep- 
tion ;  they  were  sensible  afterwards  of  their  error,and 
Avibhed  the  result  of  council  had  been  different.  To 
be  sure,  there  were  oddities  in  the  disposition  of 
Mr.  Clap,  which  may  be  imputed  to  his  state  of  ce- 
libacy. He  indulged  some  peculiarities,  which  ex- 
cited remark,  and  which  might  be  exceptionable, 
where  the  character  was  less  prominent  for  excel- 
lent traits.  The  great  Dean  Berkeley  w^a5  very  fond 
of  Mr.  Clap.  He  often  spoke  of  his  good  deeds, 
and  e^cemplary  character.  He  said  he  was  struck 
with  the  gravity  of  his  deportment.  In  a  conversa- 
tion, while  he  v/as  in  Boston,  he  said,  "  Before  I 
"^'^iW  father  Clap  I  thought  the  bishop  of  Rome  had 
the  most  grave  aspect  of  any  man  1  ever  saw,  but 
really  the  minister  of  Newport  has  the  most  venera- 
ble appearance.  The  resemblance  is  very  great." 
Mr.  Clap  died  October  30,  t745,etat  78.  Mr.  Cal- 
lender,  minister  of  the  Baptist  church,  preached  the 
funeral  sermon,  in  his  usual  excellent  and  liberal 
manner  of  writing.  *'  There  are  two  things,"  said 
he,  in  which  he  excelled  so  much,  that  I  must  not 
omit  them;  his  care  about  the  education  of  children, 
and  his  concern  for  the  instruction  of  servants.  He 
abounded  in  contrivances  to  do  good  by  scattering 
books  of  piety  and  virtue,  not  such  as  minister 
questions  and  strife,  but  godly  edifying  ;  and  put 
himself  to  a  very  considerable  expense  that  he  might, 
in  this  method,  awaken  the  careless  and  secure, 


114  CLA 

comfort  the  feeble  minded,  succour  the  tempted^ 
instruct  the  ignorant,  and  quicken,  animate  and  en- 
courage all.'*  Callend,  semi,  Prhate  injortnation^ 
Clap  Thomas,  president  of  Yale  College,  was 
born  in  Scituate,  1703  ;  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege, 1722;  ordained  at  Windsor,  Connecticut, 
1726,  and  continued  a  faithful  and  laborious  pastor 
over  that  church,  about  fourteen  years.  He  was 
then  chosen  rector  of  the  college  at  New  Haven. 
Mr.  Williams  resigned  in  1740,  and  he  was  imme- 
diately elected  to  the  office.  The  titl^  of  rector  was 
soon  after  changed  for  that  of  president.  Mr.  Clap 
was  one  of  the  most  learned  men  of  New  England. 
As  a  theologian  he  was  well  versed  in  ecclesiastical 
history,  the  writings  of  the  fathers,  the  sermons  and 
controversies  of  modern  divines.  He  was  a  Calvin- 
ist  according  to  the  Westminster  confession  of  faith, 
attached  to  the  principles  of  our  fathers,  and  he  set 
liis  face  against  every  innovation  in  doctrine,  or  the 
discipline  of  the  New  England  churches.  Hence 
he  bore  his  testimony  against  Mr.  Whitefield,  and 
that  itinerant  kind  of  preaching  which  succeed- 
ed his  visiting  these  American  provinces.  After 
this,  many  separations  were  caused  between  minis- 
ters and  their  people,  and  gifted  brethren  rose  up 
who  despised  the  ministry,  and  made  themselves 
conspicuous  by  their  boasting.  President  Clap 
wrote  several  pamphlets  on  this  subject.  He  after- 
wards wrote  a  book  which  he  styled  a  defence  of  the 
'New  Eiigland  churches  against  the  Arminians,  who 
were  spreading  their  doctrines  over  Connecticut. 
In  1752,  he  drew  the  scheme  of  the  new  divinity, 
as  he  calls  it ;  or  sums  up  the  errors  collected  from 
several  authors,  viz.  Chubb,  Taylor,  Foster,  Hutch- 
eson,  Campbell  and  Ramsay.  At  a  general  associ- 
ation of  the  ministers  of  the  county,  1755,  this  book 
of  president  Clap,  was  approved  ;  and  they  recom- 
mend it  to  the  associations  *'  to  insist  much  on  the 
doctrines  contained  in  this  defence,  and  bear  their 
testimony  against  prevailing  errors  ;  '^  it  was  signed 
by  Jared  JE-liot,  moderator. 


CLA  115 

Mr.  Clap  wrote  a  history  of  Yale  College,  which 
contains  many  precious  documents,  and  biographi- 
cal sketches.  As  the  head  of  that  seminary  he  was 
indefatigable  in  his  labours,  both  secular  and  scien- 
tifick,  to  promote  the  benefit  of  the  society.  This 
is  the  language  of  Dr.  Stiles,  and  to  have  his  com- 
mendation is  ''  laudari  a  vire  laudato."  The  doc- 
tor says,  likewise,  that  he  studied  the  higher  branch- 
es of  mathematicks,  and  was  one  of  the  first  philos- 
ophers America  has  produced;  "that  he  was  equalled 
by  no  man,  except  the  most  learned  professor  Win- 
throp."  When  Dr.  Stiles  viewed  the  character  of 
his  predecessor,  it  must  relate  to  the  time  he  was 
at  the  zenith  of  his  reputation.  In  his  latter  days, 
he  grew  unpopular  with  the  leading  characters  of 
the  state ;  and  lost  the  affection  of  the  students  at 
the  college.  Il  was  said  he  was  hard  and  unyield- 
ing in  his  temper,  opinionated  and  stiff,  as  well  as 
contracted  in  his  notions ;  that  he  would  not  suffer 
any  improvement  in  the  means  of  education,  and 
that  the  college,  though  it  had  produced  many  of 
the  first  characters  in  the  land,  did  not  make  that 
progress  in  literary  reputation  which  it  might,  be- 
'cause  he  would  admit  of  no  alteration  in  the  mode 
of  teaching  and  government,  being  so  much  afraid 
of  innovation,  and  determined  that  every  thing 
should  remain  as  it  had  been.  One  or  more  pamphlets 
were  written  containing  pointed  remarks  ;  but  how 
easy  is  it  to  hurt  the  reputation  of  persons  by  wit 
and  satire  I  The  most  eminent  men,  especially  in 
old  age,  may  be  wounded  by  arrows  sharp  pointed, 
or  dipped  in  venom,  when  young  men  are  in  sport, 
or  irritated  with  or  without  a  cause. 

If  those  things  were  true  in  any  measure,  Mr. 
Clap  differed  from  his  successors.  Even  since  Dr. 
Stiles  was  inducted  into  the  office  of  president, 
they  have  made  many  alterations,  and  increased 
their  plans  of  instruction ;  a  high  reputation  has 
been  given  to  this  ancient  seminary,  which  has 
thrown  a  lustre  upon  its  officers. 


116  C  L  A 

president  Clap  resigned  the  chair,  1764,  and 
died  at  Scituate,  the  next  year. 

Clarke  Peter,  pastor  of  a  church  in  Danvers, 
was  a  profound  and  learned  divine,  and  an  author 
of  no  small  reputation.  He  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1712,  and  ordained  June  5th,  1717  ; 
died  June,  1768.  Above  half  a  century  he  preach- 
ed to  this  people  ;  he  was  never  taken  oft'  from  his 
publick  labours,  till  wdthin  a  few  months  of  his 
death.  He  applied  diligently  to  his  studies,  and 
was  such  a  redeemer  of  time,  that  every  hour  when 
he  was  not  in  his  study,  he  endeavoured  to  im- 
prove to  the  good  of  others,  allowing  himself  very 
little  for  his  own  relaxation.  Mr.  Barnard  of  Sa- 
lem, preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  observes, 
he  was  well  acquainted  with  ancient  and  modern 
learning.  ''  His  style  was  pure,  nervous  and  clear, 
cool  and  pathetick,  as  his  subject  required  ;  and  by 
means  of  his  conversing  much  with  the  best 
modern  authors,  more  elegant  and  pleasing  to 
the  politer  world  than  most  of  his  equals  in  age. 
His  printed  works  will  be  evidence  of  this,  which 
are  somewhat  numerous  upon  every  public  occa- 
sion, and  will  do  his  memory  honour. 

His  controversial  writings  have  been  often  quot- 
ed by  others,  who  have  written  on  the  same  side 
of  the  question.  He  wrote  several  books  in  de- 
fence of  original  sin/^'  and  in  favour  of  infant  bap- 

*  This  g;cntlt;n\;vn  engaged  in  the  controversy  oForiginal  sin 
in  1758.  What  led  to  it  was  a  pamphieJ,  called  the  "winter  even- 
ing conversalion,upon  the  doctrine  of  original  sin  between  a  min- 
ister and  three  ot"  his  neighbours.'*  Mr.  Clarke  wrote  the  "  sum- 
mer morning  conversation"  in  answer  to  it.  Tliis  was  also  by 
way  of  dialogue.  The  author  of  the  "  v/inter  evening's  conver- 
sation replied  to  Mr.  Clarke  ;  and  he  then  wrote  a  reply  in  which 
lie  took  a  large  view  of  the  doctrine  by  the  disciples  of  Calvin—- 
8vo.  200  pages.  There  were  other  pamphlets  published,  and 
upon  opposite  states  of  the  question.  Such  a  controversy  was  very 
interesting  at  this  time  ;  but  ihty  are  little  known  by  the  present 
generalio!!.  The  same  subject  has  been  handled  by  greater  men, 
such  as  Taylor,  and  president  Edwards.  Mr.  Clarke  preached 
the  artillery  election  sermon,  1736;  convention  sermon,  1745  j 
Dudleian  lecture  sermon,   176". 


CLA  117 

tisni.  The  famous  Dr.  Gill  entered  the  lists  with 
him  upon  the  latter  subject.  To  whom  Mr.  Clarke 
replied,  making*  some  candid  observations  on  his 
severe  remarks.  They  both  understood  their  sub- 
ject. 

Clarke  John,  D.  D.  pastor  of  the  first  church 
in  Boston,  was  born  at  Portsmouth,  in  New- Hamp- 
shire, April  13, 1755;  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
17  74  ;  and  was  ordained  July  8,  1778,  as  colleague 
with  the  late  Dr.  Chauncy,  with  whom  he  lived  in 
the  most  intimate  and  respectful  friendship  about 
nine  years ;  and  afterwards  continued,  assiduously 
and  faithfully  labouring  in  the  service  of  the  church, 
until  the  Lord's-day,  April  1,  1798;  when,  in  the 
midst  of  his  afternoon  sermon,  he  was  suddenly  seiz- 
ed with  an  apoplexy,  fell  down  in  the  pulpit,  and  ex- 
pired in  less  than  twelve  hours,  having  almost 
completed  the  43d  year  of  his  age,  and  the  20th  of 
his  ministry. 

Descended  from  respectable  parents,  he  dis- 
covered in  early  life  the  signs  of  genius  and  in- 
dustry. At  the  university,  he  was  distinguished 
by  a  close  attention  to  classic  and  philosophic 
studies,  by  a  strict  obedience  to  the  laws,  and 
by  irreproachable  morals.  In  the  office  of  pre- 
ceptor, he  was  gentle  and  persuasive,  beloved  by 
his  pupils,  and  esteemed  by  their  friends.  As  a 
public  preacher,  his  compositions  bore  the  marks 
of  penetration,  judgment,  perspicuity  and  ele- 
gance. Faithful  to  the  interest  of  religion,  he 
deeply  examined  its  foundation  and  evidence  ;  and 
persuaded  of  the  truth  and  importance  of  the  chris- 
tian system,  he  recommended,  by  his  publick  dis- 
courses and  private  conversation,  its  sublime  doc- 
trines, its  wise  institutions,  and  its  salutary  pre- 
cepts. 

Though  fond  of  polite  literature  and  philosophic 
researches,  yet  he  considered  theology  as  the  proper 
science  of  a  gospel  minister.  To  this  object  he 
principally  devoted  his  time  and  studies,  and  was 


ilS  COB 

earnestly  desirous  of  investigating  every  branch  of 
it,  not  merely  to  gratify  his  own  sacred  curiosity, 
but  that  he  might  impart  to  his  hearers  the  whole 
counsel  of  God.  He  was  habitually  a  close  student ; 
and  it  is  not  improbable,  that  the  intenseness  of  his 
mental  application  proved  too  severe  for  the  deli- 
cate fabric  of  his  nerves. 

His  devotional  addresses  were  copious  and  fer- 
ient ;  and  his  intercessions  strong  and  affectionate ; 
discoverihg  at  once  the  ardor  of  his  piety,  and  the 
warmth  of  his  benevolence.  In  the  private  offices 
of  pastoral  friendship,  he  was  truly  exemplary  and 
Engaging.  His  temper  was  mild  and  cheerful ;  his 
manners  easy  and  polite  ;  and  the  social  virtues  of 
an  honest  heart  gave  a  glow  to  his  language,  and 
enlivened  every  circle  in  which  he  was  conver- 
sant.* 

CoBBET  Thomas,  pastor  of  the  first  church  in 
Ipswich,  was  born,  1608,  at  Newbury,  in  England, 
was  a  pupil  of  the   famous   Dr.  Twiss.   who    was 

•  This  account  of  Dr.  Clarke  is  in  the  6th  vol.  of  Historical 
Collections.  It  was  written  by  the  late  Dr.  Belknap,  who  re- 
tjuested  the  compiler  of  this  dictionary  to  undertake  it ;  but  who 
only  supplied  certain  documents,  while  he  preferred  to  have  the 
character  of  his  friend  delineated  by  an  abler  hand. 

Dr.  Clarke  was  a  member  of  the  American  academy  of  arts 
and  sciences  from  the  foundation  of  the  society  ;  also  a  member 
of  the  historical  society,  a  trustee  of  the  humane  society,  one  of 
the  first  founders  of  the  Boston  library,  a  corresponding  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  commissioners  in  Scotland  for  propagating 
the  gospel  among  the  Indians  ;  and  of  the  Massachusetts  socie- 
ty for  the  like  purpose,  extending  the  privileges  to  others,  as 
well  as  the  aboriginals. 

His  publications  were  foUr  sermons.  One  upon  the  death  of' 
K.  W.  Appleton,  an  excellent  young  man,  physician  of  Boston, 
who  died  1795;  one  upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Cooper;  one  upon 
the  death  of  Dr.  Chauncy  ;  a  sermon  before  the  humane  society, 
1793.  An  answer  to  the  question,  "  why  are  you  a  christian," 
which  has  gone  through  several  editions  in  Boston  and  London. 
Letters  to  a  student  at  the  university,  of  Cambridge.  Since  his 
death,  a  volume  of  sermons,  upon  miscellaneous  subjects  ;  and  a 
Volume  ot  r-ermons  to  young  men.  They  are  written  in  an  ele- 
•gant,  neat  and  correct  style,  in  which  he  excelled  most  other  wri- 
ters, and  are  filled  with  pious  sentiments. 


COB  119 

highly  esteemed  in  this  country.  His  works, 
though  now  scarce,  were  in  high  estimation  with 
former  generations,  especially  those  who  were  at- 
tached to  the  doctrines  of  the  Geneva  school.  Mr. 
Cobbet  was  sent  to  Oxford,  where  he  finished  his 
studies,  and  received  his  master's  degree.  He 
could  not  be  persuaded  to  conform  to  the  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  the  episcopal  church,  and  on  this  ac- 
count, being  persecuted  by  the  men  in  power,  he 
came  over  to  this  American  wilderness.  Mr.  Da- 
venport and  Mr.  Cobbet  came  over  in  the  same 
vessel.  As  soon  as  he  arrived  at  Boston,  he  was 
invited  to  settle  with  Mr.  Whiting,  in  Lynn,  where 
he  continued  from  the  year  1637  to  1656.  Be- 
ing invited  to  take  charge  of  the  church  in  Ips- 
wich, he  accepted  the  call,  and  there  passed  the 
rest  of  his  days.  He  died  1686.  It  is  an  evidence 
that  he  possessed  extraordinary  qualifications  for 
the  pastoral  office,  that  he  was  chosen  to  succeed 
two  such  eminent  divines  as  Mr.  Norton,  and  Mr. 
Rogers,  one  of  whom  removed  to  Boston  to  stand 
in  the  place  of  the  great  Cottop,  while  the 
other  was  called  to  dwell  in  his  everlsting  hah- 
itation.  Mr.  Cobbet  found  his  temporal  cir- 
cumstances meliorated  by  the  change  in  his 
situation;*  and  ^he  certainly  moved  in  a  more? 
extensive  sphere  of  usefulness.  He  excited  great 
attention  to  religion  in  the  people  of  that  town  ;  was 
fervent  in  spirit,  persevering  in  duty, while  he  adorn- 
ed his  profession  by  his  example. 

His  works  which  were  highly  praised  in  those 
times  have  not  come  down  to  us  of  this  generation  ; 
nor  do  we  know  whether  they  were  printed  in  Old 
or  New  England.     He  published  more  books  than 

•  The  town  of  Lynn,  though  in  a  flourishing;  condition,  con- 
ceived themselves  unable  to  support  two  ministers,  except  they 
used  great  economy  ;  and  reduced  their  salary  to  £  30  a  year. 
The  year  this  was  voted,  the  town  suffered  a  loss  of  £  300  by 
a  disease  among  their  cattle.  Dr.  Mather  observes,  that  this 
ought  to  he  considered  as  a  penalty  for  their  parsimonious  con- 
duct. '■■         ' 


1^0  COD 

his  contemporaries ;  they  are  described  very  minute- 
ly in  the  Magnalia.  He  first  wrote  a  book  ''  upon  tlie 
fifth  commandment^"  then  "  upon  the  first,"  also 
*'  upon  the  second  ;"  he  also  printed  upon  "  tolera- 
tion and  the  duties  of  the  civil  magistrate  ; "  to  these 
tracts  he  added  "  a  vindication  of  the  government 
of  New  England  against  their  aspersors,who  thought 
themselves  persecuted  by  it."  He  also  wrote  **  a 
defence  of  infant  baptism,"  which  is  commended  by 
Mr.  Norton. 

Of  all  his  books,  that  upon  prayer  is  said  to  be 
most  excellent ;  hence  the  inscription  on  the  tomb- 
stone. 

Sta  Viator  ;  Thesaurus  hie  jacet 
THOMAS  C013BETUS 

cujus 

J\'osti  fireccs  pot  ends  fii  man  ^  ac  Mores  firobatissiinos^ 

Siea  Nov  Anglus. 

Mirare,  si  fiictatcm  colas  ; 

Seqwevty  si  fciicicatcm  optcs. 

CoDDiNGTON  WiLLiAM,  govcmour  of  Rhodc- 
Island,  one  of  the  first  planters  of  Massachu- 
setts, was  chosen  assistant  in  England,  and  came 
over  in  the  Arabella.  He  w^as  of  Lincolnshire.  He 
fixed  himself  at  Boston,  and  v/as  a  leading  member 
of  the  first  church,  and  every  year  chosen  assistant ^ 
as  the  counsellors  w^ere  then  called.  He  sometimes 
was  a  popular  character  in  Boston  ;  at  other  times 
lost  his  influence.  Gov.  Winthrop  mencions,  that 
in  the  year  1634,  they  met  to  choose  seven  men  "  to 
divide  the  town  lands,  and  contrary  to  expectation 
left  out  Mr.  Coddington,  and  other  of  the  chief 
men."  This  however  was  owing  to  a  democrat^ 
ick  spirit  as  Mr.  Cotton  and  gov.  Winthrop  told 
them.  They  w^ere  afraid  that  the  richer  men  would 
not  give  the  poorer  sort  their  proportion.  Winthrop 
was  chosen  by  one  or  two  votes  only  and  refused  to 
serve,  '^  telling  the  people  that  he  was  much  griev- 
ed that  Boston  should  be  the  first  who  should  shake 
off*  their  magistrates,  especially  Mr.  Coddington, 
who  had  always  been  so  lor  ward  for  their  enlarge- 
ment." 


COD  121 

In  the  controversy  with  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  1637,  8, 
Winthrop  and  Coddington  took  different  sides,  the 
one  being  inclined  to  support  her  pretensions  to  pi- 
ety, and  all  her  extravagancies  of  opinion,  the  oth- 
er joined  in  the  censure  passed  upon  her  at  her  tri- 
al,  when  the  court  saw  fit  to  banish  her  from  the  co- 
lony. The  politicks  of  our  little  commonwealth 
were  not  a  little  mingled  with  that  spiritual  quixot- 
ism which  disturbed  their  tranquillity.  Vane,  Cod- 
dington, and  others,  were  opposed  to  Winthrop  and 
Dudley.  The  country  people  were  the  friends  of 
Winthrop ;  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  were  with 
Vane,  whose  interest  sunk,  when  the  familists  were 
banished.  Mr.  Coddington  would  not  even  sit 
with  gov.  Winthrop,  in  the  seat  provided  for  the 
magistrates,  but  went  and  took  his  place  with  the 
deacons,  and  soon  after  this,  he  went  to  Aquetneck, 
an  island  in  Narraganset.  He  had  a  large  property 
in  Boston,  was  a  merchant  of  the  first  character,  and 
had  been  treasurer  of  the  colony.  He  built  the 
first  brick  house  in  this  metropolis.  When  the 
people  had  incorporated  themselves  as  a  body  poli- 
tick, they  chose  him  governour.  He  continued  in 
this  office  till  the  island  was  incorporated  with  Pro- 
vidence plantations,  seven  years  after  their  removal 
from  Boston.  In  1647,  he  assisted  in  forming  their 
new  constitution,  and  was  chosen  governour  the 
next  year,  which  office  he  refused. 

In  165 1  "  he  had  a  commission  from  the  supreme 
authority  in  England  to  be  governour  of  the  island, 
pursuant  to  a  power  reserved  in  the  patent :  but  the 
people  being  jealous  the  commission  might  affect 
their  lands  and  liberties  as  secured  to  them  by  the 
patent,  he  readily  laid  it  down  on  the  first  notice 
from  England  that  he  might  do  so  ;  and  for  their 
further  satisfaction  and  contentment  he,  by  a  writ- 
ing under  his  hand,  obliged  himself  to  make  a  for- 
mal surrender  to  all  right  and  title  to  any  of  the 
lands  more  than  his  proportion,  in  common  with  the 
other  inliabitants,  whenever  it  should  be  demand- 
ed." R 


122  COL 

This  account  is  from  Mr.  Callender's  historical 
discourse,  who  was  prejudiced  in  his  favour  from 
the  sacrifices  he  made,  his  zeal  to  promote  their  inter- 
ests,  especially  the  general  toleration  of  religious 
opinions,  which  was  allowed  in  no  other  part  of 
New  England,  and  perhaps,  we  may  extend  our  ob- 
servation by  saying,  at  that  time,  no  part  of  Christ- 
endom. 

He  retired  from  publick  business  a  number  of 
years  after  this  patriotick  exertion,  but  in  his  latter 
days  was  again  a  candidate  for  the  honours  of  his 
country.  In  1678,  he  died  governour  of  the  colo- 
ny.    He  was  then  78  years  of  age.* 

The  honourable  Mr,  Coddington  who  was  a  ma- 
gistrate of  the  colony,  1738,  and  highly  esteemed 
lor  his  fidelity  and  other  virtues,  was  a  grandson  of 
the  first  governour. 

Collins  John,  minister  of  the  gospel,  was  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College,  A.  D.  1649.  He  was 
elected  fellow  of  the  corporation,  and  continued. 

He  became  a  celebrated  preacher  in  London, 
having  a  sweet  voice  and  most  affectionate  manner 
in  the  pulpit.  He  was  chaplain  to  gen.  Monk,  when 
he  marched  out  of  Scotland  into  England  ;  was  one 
of  the  lecturers  at  Pinner's  hall,  and  died  Dec.  3d, 
1687,  universally  lamented. f 

*On  the  24th  of  March,  1637, 8, the  Indian  sachems  signed  the 
deed  or  grant  of  Aquetneck,  &c.  and  the  EngHsh  not  only  paid 
the  gratuities,  to  the  sachems,  but  many  more  to  the  inhabitants 
to  remove  off,  as  appears  by  receipts  still  extant. 

The  settlement  began  at  Pocasset,  the  east  end  of  the  island, 
since  called  Portsmouth.  In  1644,  they  called  it.  Isle  of  Rhodes, 
or  Rhode  Island.  When  the  island  was  first  incorporated,  they 
chose  a  judge  to  do  justice  and  judgment  and  preserve  peace. 
This  was  Mr.  Coddington.  In  1740,  they  voted  he  should  be 
called  governour  '  W.  Brenton  was  chosen  deputy  governour  j 
N.  Easton,  J.  Coggeshall,  William  Boulston  and  John  Porter 
were  chosen  assistants. 

t  In  the  Magnalia,  we  are  told  that  when  Mr.  Collins  laid  sick, 
Mr.  Mead  prayed  so  affectionately  for  him  that  there  hardly  was 
a  dry  eye  in  the  great  congregation  at  Pinner's  Hall,  where  he  had 
been  at  lecturer.     Dr.  Mather,  in  allusion  to  Mr.  Collinses  ser- 


COL  ms 

He  had  a  son  who  was  educated  for  the  ministry 
at  Utrecht,  who  was  afterwards  minister  of  one  of 
the  churches  in  the  city  of  London. 

His  publications  are  a  sermon  in  the  morning  ex- 
ircises,  upon  this  question — How  are  the  religious 
of  a  nation  the  strength  of  it  ?  a  sermon,  Jude,  3d  v. 
a  prefatory  epistle  before  Mr.  Venning's  remains, 
also,  one  before  the  treatise  of  eternal  glory,  written 
by  Mr.  Mitchel  of  Cambridge. 

Collins  Nathaniel,  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Middleton,  Connecticut,  was  the  younger  brother 
©f  John,  both  were  the  sons  of  deacon  Collins  of 
Cambridge.  The  younger  brotlier  was  graduated, 
1660,  and  he  died,  Dec.  28,  1684, 

He  united  in  his  character  all  the  qnalities  of  ex- 
emplary piety,  extraordinary  ingenuity,  obliging 
affability  ;'*  and  was  a  very  excellent  preacher. 

Ille  plus  pastor,  quo  non  pracstantior  unus 
Qui  faciendo  docet,  qux  facienda  docet. 

CoLMAN  Benjamin,  D.  D.  minister  of  the 
church  in  Brattle  street,  Boston,  was  born  in  Bos- 
ton, 1674.  His  parents  came  from  London,  not 
many  years  before  this  excellent  son  of  theirs  was 
born.  Young  Colman  received  his  education  at 
Harvard  College,  was  a  studious  youth,  though  of 

ttion  in  the  M.  E.  says,  the  natifin  iveakened  by  his  deaths  would  be 
a  geod  running  title  for  his  funeral  sermon. 

Of  Nathaniel  Collins,  that  there  were  more  weunds  given  to 
Connecticut  by  his  death,  than  Cxsar  received  in  the  senate  house. 

He  says  likewise  that  he  should  have  written  some  verses  up- 
on his  death,  but  he  recollected  the  clause  in  a  certain  gentleman's 
nmlly  mentioned  by  Thuanus,  that  they  should  not  burden  his 
hearse  with  bad  funeral  verses  ;  and  because  that  sacred  thing 
verse  has  been,  by  the  licentious  part  of  mankind,  so  prostituted, 
that  whatever  is  now  offered,  becomes  suspected.  Nevertheless 
the  merits  of  Mr.  Collins  were  such,  that  his  life  must  be  written, 
or  at  least  so  much  of  it  as  this,  that  "  he  deserved  highly  to  have 
his  life  written." 

The  Dr.  consoles  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  lest  they  should 
be  too  much  depressed  by  the  loss  of  a  faithful  minister,  with  si 
saying  whereby  the  mother  of  Brasides  was  comforted.  Vir  bonus 
est  Brasides,  et  fortis,  sed  habet  multos  Sparta  similes.  So  were 
then  living  in  Connecticut  a  number  of  very  good  preachers  1 1 1 


124  COL 

a  very  infirm  constitution.  He  was  graduated,  1692, 
and  commenced  preaching,  but  did  not  incline  to 
settle  in  the  ministry  till  he  gained  wisdom  by  age 
and  experience.  When  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  21, 
he  had  a  strong  inclination  to  visit  the  land  of  his 
fathers,  and  his  friends  supposed  that  he  would  fix 
his  abode  in  England.  He  suffered  during  the  pas- 
sage, the  voyage  being  perilous,  and  the  vessel  be- 
ing attacked  by  an  enemy,  a  French  privateer,  which 
captured  them  after  a  severe  engagement.  Mr.  Col- 
man  was  on  the  vessel's  deck  during  the  fight,  and 
received  unkind  usage  from  the  enemy  on  account 
of  being  a  protestant  priest.  When  he  was  in 
France,  it  was  a  satisfaction  to  the  grinning  multi- 
tude to  insult  a  man,  who  was  an  heretick,  and 
preached  against  the  pope  of  Rome.  But  in  every 
place  there  are  humane  people,  who  look  with  pity 
upon  people  in  distress  ;  and  among  christian  na- 
tions those  who  visit  the  prisoner.  They  resist  the 
spirit  of  bigotry,  and  oppose  the  demon  of  persecu- 
tion, whether  clothed  in  the  garb  of  the  saint,  or 
raging  with  the  sword  of  violence.  From  having  a 
'wisp  of  straw  to  lie  upon,  in  the  gloomy  vaults  of 
a  prison,  Mr.  C.  received  kindness  from  persons 
he  never  knew,  and  who  only  considered  that  he 
was  a  stranger.  When  there  was  an  exchange  of 
prisoners,  he  went  to  London,  where  he  had  many 
friends.  He  preached  to  great  acceptance  in  that 
city,  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Bates,  Dr.  Cala- 
my  and  Mr.  Howe,  the  most  famous  ministers  among 
the  dissenters,  and  received  many  marks  of  their  es- 
teem.*      He  was  introduced  by  them  to  several 

*  Dr.  Colman  \yas  present  with  the  London  ministers  when 
they  presenttd  their  address  of  condolence  to  king  William  upon 
the  death  ot  the  queen.  Dr.  Bates  presented  it.  The  composi- 
tion is  beautiful,  but  when  delivered,  it  had  a  surprising  effect. 
The  courtiers  said  they  never  saw  the  king  so  moved,  and  con- 
fessed that  they  never  knew  the  power  of  eloquence  equal  to  it 
upon  thetnstlves.  Dr  Colman  in  his  manner  of  speaking  and 
writing  endeavoured  to  imitate  Bates's  excellencies.  The  same 
observation  was  made  of  the  late  Dr,  Samuel  Cooper  concerning 
his  method  of  sermonizing. 


COL  125 

churches,  and  having  been  so  highly  rccomniended, 
they  earnestly  requested  his  continuance.  His  in- 
clination might  have  led  him  to  stay  in  Great  Bri- 
tain, had  he  not  received  a  more  pressing  solicita- 
tion to  return  to  Boston,  and  take  the  pastoral  charge 
of  a  new  church,  which  some  of  the  principal  inhab- 
itants of  the  town  had  then  erected.  1  he  London 
ministers,  with  whom  he  had  associated,  ordained 
him.  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1699.  He  arrived 
in  Boston  the  next  season,  where  he  met  with  a  most 
cordial  reception  from  the  people  of  his  society. 
There  were,  however,  many  hurt  by  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  society  in  Brattle  street.  The  church 
was  built  in  opposition  to  the  Cambridge  platform. 
Ministers,  venerable  for  their  age  and  wisdom,  such 
as  Mr.  Higginson  and  Mr.  Hubbard,  bore  their  tes- 
timony to  the  order  of  the  churches,  and  one  of 
them  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Mather,  calls  it  a  "  presbyte- 
rian  brat;"  nor  would  any  of  the  churches  hold 
communion  with  Mr.  Col  man  for  some  years.  But 
he  continued  the  faithful,  and  beloved  pastor  of  this 
flock,  until  the  summer  of  1747,  and  then  died  at  the 
age  of  73.  As  a  preacher,  he  obtained  gieat  celeb- 
rity for  his  elocution.  He  had  a  lively  animation 
without  much  fiery  zeal.  He  allured  men,  instead 
of  driving  them  into  right  paths.  His  manners  were 
soft  and  obliging  ;  so  ready  was  he  to  overlook  frail- 
ties and  praise  excellencies  in  others,  that  he  was 
called  a  flatterer;  but  this  was  owing  to  his  civility 
and  good  breeding.  Polite  men  are  not  always 
guilty  of  simulation,  nor  duplicity. 

Dr.  Colman  received  a  diploma  of  doctor  in  di- 
vinity from  the  university  of  Glasgow,  1731.  He 
was  elected  president  of  Harvard  College,  1724. 
He  was  fellow  of  the  corporation  during  the  time, 
that  president  Leverett,  and  his  successor,  were  in 
the  chair.  He  was  at  the  head  of  the  clergy  after 
the  death  of  Dr.  Cotton  Mather.  One  of  the  best 
discourses  he  ever  published  was,  an  eulogy  upon 
that  great  scholar.    They  had  been  long  at  variance, 


126  COO 

but  their  friendship  was  renewed  several  years  be« 
fore  Dr.  Mather  died,  and  then  they  wondered  how 
tiiey  could  so  long  disagree. 

Dr.  Colman  had  an  extensive  correspondence, 
which  he  made  subservient  to  useful  and  benevo* 
lent  purposes.  He  obtained  many  donations,  for 
the  Indian  missions,  from  affluent  gentlemen  in 
London.  Through  him  the  Mollis  family  laid  their 
liberal  foundations  for  two  professorships  at  Har- 
vard College.  What  president  Holyoke  said  of 
him,  in  an  oration  pronounced  the  commencement 
after  his  death,  was  considered  as  correct  sentiment 
rather  than  panegyrick.  *'  Vita  ejus  utilissima  in 
rebus  charitatis,  humanitatis,  benignitatis,  et  benefi- 
centiae,  nunquam  non  occupata  est." 

Mr.  Turell,  son  in  law  to  Dr.  Colman,  wrote 
*'  memoirs  of  his  life  and  writings,"  in  an  octavo 
volume.  His  publications  are  numerous.  They 
are  upon  theological  subjects,  except  one  in  favour 
of  *'  inoculation  for  the  small  pox,"  in  1721.  He 
printed  a  volume  of  excellent  sermons,  upon  '*  the 
parable  of  the  ten  virgins," 

Cooke  Eli s ha,  physician  in  the  town  of  Bos* 
ton,  was  a  great  politician  at  the  time  the  charter 
Tights  of  Massachusetts  were  disputed  ;  and  agent 
of  the  province,  when  the  charter  of  William  and 
Mary  was  obtained.  He  was  a  popular  leader  in 
the  general  court  more  than  40  years.  In  1681  he 
was  one  of  the  representatives,  who  were  zealous 
for  colonial  freedom,  and  '*  opposed  sending  over 
agents,  or  submitting  to  acts  of  trade,"  &c.  In 
1684  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  assistants.  When 
Dr.  Mather  was  sent  over  as  agent,  and  with  Mr. 
Oakes  signed  the  petition  for  a  new  charter,  Mr. 
Cooke  refused ;  saying,  "  the  old  charter  or  none." 
He  was  the  opposer  of  all  the  governours,  but  the 
pointed  enemy  of  Dudley,  and  never  missed  the 
opportunity  of  speaking  against  his  measures,  or 
declaring  his  disapprobation  of  the  man.  On  the 
other  hand,  Dudley  negatived  him  as  often  as  he 


coo  1$7 

was  chosen  into  the  council,  till  the  year  1175,  when 
he  approved  of  his  election  ;  the  same  year,  one  was 
deprived  of  the  government,   and  the  other   died. 
Mr.  Cooke  was  this  year  78  years  old.    Hutchinson. 
Cooke  Elisha,  son  of  the  former  agent,    early 
bent  his  mind  to  politicks,    which  enabled   him  to 
lead  the  debates   in  the  house  of  representatives. 
Before  the  arrival  of  gov.  Shute  he  was  not  distin- 
guished  as  the  head  of  a  party.     He  was  a   popular 
man  in  the  town  of  Boston,  had  been  one   of  their 
representatives  to  the  general  court,  and  was  chos- 
en a  counsellor;  he  had  the  clerkship  of  the  supreme 
court,  which  Shute  took  from  him ;  and  from  that 
time  he  was  his  open   enemy.     He   commenced  a 
most  violent  attack    upon  his   administration,  and 
the  next  year  was  set  aside  from  the  council.  There 
had  always  been  two  parties  in  the   general  court. 
Those  who  were  old  chartermen ;  and  the  governour's 
friends.     The  former  had  all  the  democratick  spirit 
of  ancient  times,  and  were  called  the  patriots  of  that 
day.     They  rested  the  ground  of  their  opposition 
against  the  governour  on  his  application  for  a  fixed 
salary.       Upon  this  Shute  insisted,   according   to 
his  instructions.     And  here  Mr.  Cooke  directed  his 
let  halls  arundo^  till  he   wounded  the  side   of  the 
chief  magistrate,   and  made   him  quit  his  place. 
He  went  to  England  to  make  his  complaints  against 
the  province  ;  but  would  never  return,   though  he 
was  offered  the  government  again,  and  justified  in 
all  his  proceedings,     Mr.  Cooke  was  sent  to   the 
court  of  Great  Britain  as  agent  for  the   people   of 
Massachusetts,  but  failed  in  his  application,  and  ob* 
tained  little  of  that  respect  and  honour    which    he 
had  in  his  own  country.     He  returned   to  Boston, 
1726.      At   the  next   election   he   was  appointed 
counsellor.     He  was  on  the  side  of  the  controver- 
sy, which  opposed  gov.  Burnet,  but  not  so  violent 
as  in  former  days,  when  his  political  resentment  was 
stimulated  by  personal  feelings.     He  was  the  warm 
friend  of  Belcher,  who  went  over  to  the  popular  par- 


128  COO 

ty  before  Burnet  died.  And  when  he  was  in  the 
chair,  appointed  his  friend  a  judge  of  the  common 
pleas.  He  died  in  the  year  1737.  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son, though  the  great  friend  to  Dudley,  Burnet,  and 
other  governours  on  the  side  of  prerogative,  uni- 
formly gives  praise  to  the  Cookes.  He  says,  they 
WTre  both  fair,  honest  men,  open  in  their  conduct, 
and  acted  from  a  love  to  their  country.  It  is  some 
credit  to  him  as  an  historian,  that  he  should  delin- 
eate so  fairly  the  characters  of  men  who  certainly 
were  the  most  zealous  republicans,  who  ever  acted 
their  parts  in  Massachusetts  bay. 

Cooper  William,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Brattle  street,  Boston,  was  one  of  the  most  fervent 
preachers  of  the  age.  In  the  character  given  of  him, 
by  a  brother  minister,  he  was  "  an  interpreter,  one 
among  a  thousand."  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  1712.  In  the  year  1715,  began  to  preach, 
and  was  invited  to  settle  as  colleague  pastor  with  Dr. 
Colman.  At  his  request,  his  ordination  was  defer- 
red a  year.  But  on  May  23,  1716,  he  was  separat- 
ed to  the  work  of  the  ministry  ;  and  continued  to 
preach  to  this  society  with  increasing  vigour,  zeal 
and  activity,  till  his  death,  Nov.  13,  1743.  He  was 
then  in  the  50th  year  of  his  age.  It  is  said,  that  he 
had  an  uncommon  talent  at  explaining  and  enforc- 
ing  the  sublimest  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  making 
them  familiar  to  the  meanest  capacity.  When  Dr. 
Colman  preached,  the  people  went  away  highly  gra- 
tified,  talked  ot  the  excellencies  of  the  discourse, 
and  of  his  charming  delivery.  But  when  his  col- 
league had  performed  the  pulpit  exercises,  he  had 
such  a  way  of  addressing  the  heart,  and  giving  a  so- 
lemnity  to  their  spirits,  that  each  man  had  a  look  of 
concern,  and  went  home  silent  as  the  grave.  Death, 
judgment,  and  eternity,  were  the  subjects  of  his 
preaching. 

His  character  as  a  learned  man  was  very  respect, 
able.  In  the  year  1737,  he  was  chosen  president  of 
Harvard  College,  which  honourable  trust  he  declin- 


GOO  129 

ed  accepting,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the  over- 
seers.*    ColmarC s  funeral  sermon. 

Cooper  Samuel,  D.  D.  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated divines  and  politicians  of  New  England,  was 
the  son  of  the  rev.  William  Cooper  ;  and  his  suc- 
cessor at  Brattle  street  church. 

When  he  was  young  he  discovered  genius  and 
taste,  and  was  a  fine  classical  scholar  before  he  en- 
tered college.  At  the  seat  of  the  muses  he  com- 
posed in  poetry  and  prose  in  a  style  beyond  his 
years.  He  had  charming  oratorical  powers,  which 
he  displayed  on  several  occasions  before  the  publick. 
As  his  memory  was  very  tenacious  he  could  at  any 
time  repeat  the  orations  he  then  delivered ;  the 
style  was  rather  Virgilian  than  an  imitation  of  the 
Roman  orator.  Horace  and  Virgil  were  his  favour, 
ite  authors  of  the  ancient  classicks  ;  Addison  and 
Atterbury  of  latter  days.  When  his  father  died  he 
was  deeply  affected ;  he  lost  his  companion  and 
friend  at  the  time  he  most  needed  advice  and  di- 
rection. He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1743,  the  year  this  melancholy  event  took  place. 
The  eyes  of  the  people  were  tixed  on  him  to  take 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  church  in  Brattle  street. 
Dr.  Colman  was  so  earnest  to  have  him  for  a  col- 

•  Works, — Four  sermons  upon  predestination,  which  were 
reprinted  in  London,  1765,  Another  edition  has  been  lately- 
emitted  from  the  press  of  E.  Lincoln.  Boston. 

In  1723,  Dr.  Colman  and  Mr.  C,  printed  two  sermons  to  young 
people  ;  in  1736,  Mr.  C  printed  a  sermon  at  the  ordination  of  the 
rev.  Robert  Break,  which  gave  rise  to  a  large  controversy  between 
him  and  certain  ministers  in  the  county  of  Hampshire.  They 
printed  a  "  narrative  of  the  proceedings  of  the  council  ;'*  an  »*aii° 
swer  to  the  Hampshire  narrative**  was  printed  in  Boston.  They 
published  "  a  reply  to  this  answer,'*  impute  it  to  Mr.  Cooper,  and 
make  severe  remarks  upon  liis  conduct.  Mr.  Cooper  engaged 
in  another  controversy  with  Mr.  Ashley  afterwards  on  account  q% 
a  sermon  he  preached  upon  charity.  The  newspapers  were  fill- 
ed with  this  dispute  for  some  months,  besides  the  numerous  pam- 
phlets it  occasioned.  The  other  publications  of  Mr  C.  are  a 
sermon  upon  the  death  of  gov.  Tailor,  one  upon  the  death  of  rev. 
Peter  Thacher,  1739,  and  two  sermons  upon  the  revival  of  reli" 
gion,  1741. 

S 


130  COO 

league,  that  he  urged  him  to  preach  at  this  tender 
age,  and  before  he  had  read  those  books  of  theology 
which  are  thought  necessary  for  preparatory  stu- 
dies. He  gave  up  his  own  inclinations  to  the 
pressing  solicitations  of  his  friends,  but  requested 
the  same  indulgence  they  had  granted  to  his  father, 
that  his  ordination  might  be  deferred  for  some  time. 
This  request  was  complied  with.  He  preached  oc^ 
casionally,  but  was  not  ordained  till  May  25,  1746. 
His  venerable  colleague  delivered  a  discourse  upon 
this  occasion,  and  performed  one  part  of  the  day,  till 
he  was  called  to  receive  the  rev^ard  of  his  labours. 
He  then  dropped  his  mantle  for  the  benefit  of  the 
younger  prophet.  Mr.  Cooper  had  from  this  time 
the  care  of  a  church  which  was  very  large,  and  had 
been  wisely  instructed  by  great  and  learned  divines, 
who  had  **  the  gift  and  art  of  preaching;"  but  he  did 
not  frustrate  the  expectations  of  the  people.  He 
appeared  like  the  rising  light,  shining  more  and 
more  unto  his  meridian  splendor.  The  same  beau- 
ties of  style,  engaging  delivery,  and  devotional  spir- 
it, which  they  admired  in  their  aged  pastor,  drew 
their  attention,  and  allured  their  affection  to  Mr, 
Cooper.  His  diction  was  more  chaste  and  correct, 
and  his  gift  in  prayer  peculiar,  and  very  excellent. 
With  a  great  flow  of  language,  he  had  an  admirable 
facility  of  mingling  scriptural  phrases  in  their  pro- 
per places. 

His  religious  sentiments  vvcre  liberal,  and  he  was 
a  friend  to  free  inquiry.  In  discoursing  upon  reli- 
gious topics  in  conversation  he  discovered  the  same 
elegance  and  propriety  of  speech  which  distinguish- 
ed his  pulpit  exercises.  He  had  line  colloquial 
talents  and  would  have  made  a  great  figure  in  speak- 
ing extempore  had  he  used  himself  to  it  in  a  pub- 
lick  assembly.  His  erudition  was  rather  extensive 
than  deep,  but  his  ready  mind,  fine  brilliant  imagi- 
nation, and  quickness  of  recollection  enabled  him 
to  shine  in  company  where  greater  scholars,  and 
much  more  profound  theologians,  listened  to  hear 


coo  151 

him,  to  whom,  however,  he  would  give  up  an  opin- 
ion, when  they  thought  it  not  correct.  If  in  any- 
thing he  was  obstinate  in  his  own  sentiments  it  was 
upon  the  politicks  of  the  day.  His  eulogist  hand- 
somely describes  this  part  of  his  character  so  that 
no  one  can  object  to  his  becoming  a  politician. 
*'  He  well  knew  that  tyranny  opposes  itself  to  reli- 
gious as  well  as  civil  liberty  ;  and  being  among  the 
first  who  perceived  the  injustice  and  ruinous  ten- 
dency of  the  British  court,  which  at  length  obliged 
the  Americans  to  defend  their  rights  with  the  sword, 
this  reverend  patriot  was  among  the  first  who  took 
an  early  and  decided  part  in  the  politicks  of  his 
country." 

He  was,  however,  a  political  writer  earlier  in  life 
than  any  threatening  of  British  thraldom.  In  the 
year  1754,  he  wrote  the  Crisis,  a  pamphlet  against 
the  excise  act,  which  our  general  court  contemplat- 
ed. He  certainly  was  at  all  times  a  leading  charac- 
ter among  the  American  whigs.  And  from  the 
time  of  the  stamp  act  to  the  revolutionary  war,  some 
of  the  best  political  pieces  in  the  Boston  Gazette 
were  the  eflfusions  of  his  pen.  The  letters  from  gov. 
Hutchinson  to  Whately  which  were  printed  in  Bos- 
ton were  sent  to  Dr.  Cooper ;  whether  by  Dr. 
Franklin  or  Mr.  Temple  is  not  ascertained.  They 
were  put  into  his  hands  to  read,  to  communicate  to 
certain  friends,  but  under  a  strict  injunction  not  to 
have  them  published.  They  were  published  by  a 
gentleman  to  whom  they  were  communicated  upon 
his  promise  of  returning  them  *'  uncopied."  The 
Doctor  was  not  to  blame,  and  was  much  grieved  at 
'the  consequences  of  the  publication,  which  were  a 
duel  between  Mr.  Whately  and  Mr.  Temple,  and 
loss  of  the  office  of  postmaster- general  to  Dr. 
Franklin.  Mr.  Teifiple  was  never  satisfied  with 
the  apology  of  Dr.  Cooper  for  what  he  thought  a 
breach  of  confidence. 

In  the   spring  of  1775,   Dr.  Cooper,  with  other 
patriots,  was  lampooned  by  the  British  officers  in  an 


m  Coo 

bration  pronounced  in  State  street.  He  afterv/ards 
met  with  insults,  and  it  was  happy  for  him  that  he 
left  the  town  before  Lexington  battle,  as  he  was  ve- 
ry obnoxious  to  the  authority  then  in  Boston.  He 
was  a  warm  friend  to  the  independence  of  his  coun- 
try, 1776  ;  and  joined  heartily  in  promoting  the  al- 
liance with  France.  *'  The  great  friendship  sub- 
sisting between  him,  Dr.  Franklin  and  Mr.  Adams 
was  one  means  of  his  being  known  in  France  ;  and 
the  gentlemen  coming  from  that  kingdom  were  ge- 
nerally recommended  to  him  by  those  ambassadors. 
"When  the  fleets  of  his  most  Christian  Majesty 
adorned  oUr  harbours,  he  was  always  the  confiden- 
tial friend  of  the  gentlemen  who  commanded  ;  and 
many  officers  and  subjects  of  that  august  monarch 
were  received  by  him  with  great  cordiality  that  was 
p'easing,  and  highly  endeared  him  to  them."*  It 
is  true  that  he  was  much  devoted  to  the  French  go- 
vernment, more  so,  than  was  agreeable  to  his  pious 
friends,  and  several,  who  had  been  his  political 
friends,  blamed  him  for  his  sanguine  views  of  their 
friendship.  Franklin,  though  a  great  philosopher, 
was  not  so  great  a  statesman  as  the  other  gentlemen 
who  made  the  peace  in  1783.  They  sav/  through 
the  policy  of  the  French  court,  and  prevented  the 
interests  of  the  New  England  states  from  being  sac- 
rificed. 

Dr.  Cooper  was  a  member  of  several  societies^ 
for  pious  and  literary  purposes  ;  he  promoted  them 
with  all  his  influence.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
was  fellow  of  Harvard  College.  In  the  year  1774, 
he  was  chosen  president.  He  was  the  first  vice 
president  of  the  American  academy  of  arts  and  sci- 
ences, instituted  by  the  general  court  of  Massachu- 
setts, 1780.  His  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity  was 
jpresented  by  the  university  of  Edinburgh. 

He  enjoyed  his  vigour  of  mind,  his  activity,  and 
his  cheerfulness  till  he  was  seized  with  his  last  ill- 

*  Character  wriUen  by  James  Sullivan,  erq. 


COT  13$ 

ness  5  this  was  an  apoplectick  turn,  which  continued 
only  a  few  days.  He  expired,  Dec.  23,  1783.*  Dr. 
Clarke  preached  a  sermon  at  his  funeral. 

Cotton  John,  was  born  at  Derby,  A.  D.  1684, 
His  parents  were  persons  of  considerable  quality 
and  good  reputation.  Their  condition,  as  to  the 
good  things  of  this  life,  competent.  They  were 
wise  enough  to  employ  their  means  to  good  pur- 
poses ;  and  educated  their  son  so  as  to  make  him 
eminent  and  useful.  Their  solicitude  for  this  ten- 
der plant  was  well  rewarded  v/hen  they  saw  him, 
like  a  tree  of  life,  feeding  thousands  with  the  doc- 
trines of  Christianity  ;  and  to  them  also  the  fruit  of 
his  lips  was  sweet. 

After  leaving  the  grammar-school  at  Derby,  he 
was  admitted  to  Trinity  College,  Cambridge.  His 
industry  was  great,  and  his  proficiency  uncommon. 
From  Trinity  he  was  admitted  to  Emanuel,  where 
he  was  soon  made  a  Feiloiv,  When  he  was  elected, 
he  wag  strictly  examined.  The  portion  of  scrip, 
ture,  chosen  to  prove  his  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew 
tongue,  contains  more  hard  words  than  any  other 
in  the  Bible,  Isaiah  iii.  Wherein  the  prophet  de- 
claims against  the  haughtiness  of  the  daughter  of 
Zion.  But  so  good  an  Hebrewician  could  not  be  at 
a  stand  ;  it  rather  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  show 
his  ability  and  attention  to  that  language.  Being 
thus  advanced,  he  was  in  a  place  for  improvement ; 
he  was  surrounded  with  characters,  who  were  prop- 
er objects  of  emulation  ;  the  glow  of  genius  appear- 
ed in  his  manner  of  giving  and  receiving  instruc- 
tion, and  all  his  powers  and  faculties  were  quicken^ 
ed  to  attempt  a  resemblance  of  those  who  had  the 

♦  His  publications,  besides  those  aboveraentioned,  are,  artillery 
election  sermon,  1751  ;  sermon  before  the  society  for  encourag- 
ing industry,  1753  ;  election  sermon,  1756  ;  sermon  at  tiie  ordi- 
nation of  Joseph  Jackson,  1760  ;  thanksgiving  sermon  on  the  con- 
quest of  Quebec,  1759  ;  sermon  on  the  death  of  George  II. 
1761 ;  at  the  Dudleian  lecture,  1774  ;  a  sermon  before  the  gener- 
al court,  October,  1780,  being  the  day  of  the  commencement  of 
the  constitution  and  inauguration  of  the  new  government. 


134  COT 

highest  reputations  for  erudition.  He  soon  ren- 
dered  himself  famous  by  his  funeral  oration  for  Dr. 
Some,  Master  of  Peter-House,  Cambridge.  In  this. 
he  discovered  a  purity  of  style  with  the  ornaments 
ofrhetorick.  The  fame  of  his  learning  increased 
from  his  next  publick  performance,  which  was  a 
University  sermon,  and  he  was  often  invited  to 
preach  in  the  same  place.  When  he  had  been  at 
Boston,  in  Lincolnshire,  some  months,  he  proceeded 
bachelor  of  divinity,  and  preached  a  Concio  ad  Cle- 
ru7n,  in  Latin,  which  was  greatly  admired.  His 
text  was  Mat.  v.  13.  He  appeared  also  to  great  ad- 
vantage in  answering  a  very  acute  opponent,  Mr. 
William  Chappel,  who  disputed  with  him. 

For  several  years  he  preached  to  his  people  with- 
out any  opposition,  but  when  he  urged  his  dislike 
of  the  ceremonies,  he  was  brought  before  the  court 
of  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  for  his  non- conformity  ; 
from  which  he  was  advised  to  appeal  to  a  higher 
court,  and  employing  Mr.  Leverett  (who  was  af- 
terwards one  of  the  ruling  elders  in  the  church  of 
Boston,  New- England)  he  was,  through  his  means, 
restored  to  his  church,  who  had  much  occasion  to 
rejoice  in  his  labours.  He  was  so  much  in  favour 
with  Dr.  Williams,  the  bishop  of  Lincoln,  that 
when  he  was  Lord  Keeper  of  the  great  seal,  he  went 
to  King  James,  and  begged  that  a  man  of  so  much 
worth  and  learning  might  have  liberty  of  preaching 
without  interruption,  though  hewas  a  non- conform- 
ist. 

The  earl  of  Dorchester,  also,  being  at  old  Bos- 
ton, was  much  affected  when  he  heard  him  deliver 
a  discourse  upon  civil  government,  and  stood  his 
friend  in  times  of  great  opposition.  These  are  the 
times  to  try  and  prove  friendship.  From  men  of 
urbanity  and  good  nature  the  civilities  of  social  life 
are  readily  granted ;  but  how  few  among  the  rich 
men  of  the  city,  and  nobles  of  a  kingdom,  think  of 
virtue  in  distress !  There  were  some,  however,  a- 
tnong  the   gentlemen  and  noblemen  in  England, 


COT  135 

who  exerted  themselves  to  serve  vi^orthy  Puritan 
ministers,  and  kept  them  from  prison  and  from  pen- 
ury, while  bigots  ruled  the  nation,  and  the  vilest 
aspersions  were  cast  upon  all  those  who  were  sus- 
pected of  non-conformity. 

Mr.  Cotton  was  not  able  to  stem  the  tide  of  party. 
He  was  ordered  before  the  high  commission  court, 
who  were  disposed  to  pour  out  the  bitterness  of 
their  wrath  upon  his  head  ;  but  they  were  disap- 
pointed of  their  aim,  and,  through  the  influence  of 
those  who  were  well  disposed,  he  escaped  and  came 
to  New- England.  It  was  observed,  that  he  did  not 
fly  from  the  profession  of  the  truth,  but  unto  a  more 
opportune  place  for  the  profession  of  it. 

When  Mr.  Cotton  came  over  to  this  country, 
they  were  busy  in  settling  the  affairs  of  the  churches 
and  commonwealth.  In  both  of  which  he  took  aqi 
active  part.  Being  requested  to  preach  before  the 
general  court,  his  text  was  Haggai  ii.  4.  '*  Yet 
now  be  strong,  O  Zerubbabel,  saiththe  I^ord  ;  and 
be  strong,  O  Joshua,  son  of  Josedech  the  high 
priest;  and  be  strong,  all  ye  people  of  the  land,  saith 
the  Lord,  and  work ;  for  I  am  with  you,  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts." 

It  was  a  usual  thing  for  the  magistrates  to  consult 
with  the  ministers,  and  Mr.  Cotton  was  appointed, 
with  gov.  Winthrop,  to  draw  an  abstract  of  the  JU" 
dicial  laws  of  the  Mosaick  system,  so  far  as  they  are 
moraL     It  was  his  advice  to  establish  a  Theocracy, 

Mr.  Cotton  began  the  sabbath  on  Saturday  even- 
ing. He  gave  religious  instructions,  read  the 
scriptures,  and  then  retired  into  his  study.  He 
spent  the  sabbath  day  either  in  his  study  or  in  the 
pulpit.  He  was  a  very  accomplished  preacher ;  his 
voice  had  melody  in  it,  and  was  sonorous ;  his  ser- 
mons pathetick,  and  his  critical  acumen  uncom- 
mon. This  was  discovered  in  his  frequent  expo- 
sitions, and  dissertations  upon  passages  and  whole 
books  of  the  scripture.  He  was  considered  as  a 
great  polemick  divine  ;    yet  upon  two   occasions. 


136  C  O  T 

when  his  talents  were  exerted  this  way,  he  was  un- 
der no  small  disadvantage.  In  his  controversy  with 
Roger  Williams,  he  had  an  opponent  who  not  only 
possessed  talents  which  would  have  made  him  great 
in  any  school,  but  had  bent  the  force  of  his  strong 
mind  to  the  very  subject  which  then  employed 
their  attention.  In  England,  Mr.  Cotton  had  writ- 
ten in  favour  of  toleration,  and  against  the  powder 
of  the  magistrate  in  matters  of  religion.  Here  he 
had  to  oppose  the  sentiment  he  had  forpnerly  de- 
fended, and  to  write  against  the  principles  which 
the  dissenting  ministers  in  England  then  thought 
evangelical,  and  have,  ever  since,  supported  ;  and 
which  are  necessary  to  vindicate  their  separation. 

He  was  accused  of  holding  a  bloody  tenet  by 
Williams,  and  the  title  of  his  answer  was,  T^he 
Bloody  Tenet  vjashed  in  the  Blood  of  the  Lamb. 

In  the  general  commotion  of  the  country  concern- 
ing the  Antinomian  sentiments,  our  celebrated  di- 
vine lost  much  of  the  dignity  of  his  character,  and 
his  influence  in  the  churches.  He  did  not  go  to 
the  extreme  which  would  please  his  friends ; 
some  of  them  compared  him  to  a  light  in  a  dark 
lantern.  The  other  side  were  bitter  in  their  ani- 
madversions upon  his  conduct.  At  the  synod,  in 
1637,  he  had  to  oppose  the  whole  body  of  minis- 
ters,  and  some  of  them  were  disposed  to  vex  him. 
Once  he  became  so  unhappy  as  to  threaten  to  leave 
the  plantation.  The  latter  part  of  his  ministry  was 
less  irksome.  He  enjoyed  some  years  of  rest  after 
being  tossed  on  the  troubled  sea.  His  labours  were 
edifying  to  the  people  ;  his  abilities  and  character 
were  equally  respected  by  the  magistrates  and  his 
clerical  brethren,  who  all  lamented  his  death  when 
he  was  sixty-eight  years  old,  and  mourned  for  the 
loss  which  the  country  as  well  as  his  people  had  sus- 
tained. He  died  Dec.  23,  1652.  His  disorder  was 
of  a  pulmonary  nature,  owing  to  his  passing  a  ferrj' 
and  getting  wet,  and  then  preaching  in  a  neigh- 
touring  church.     He  was  seized  while  he  was  dp-- 


CO  T  137 

iivering  the  sermon,  and  was  never  afterwards  free 
from  the  complaint ;  yet  he  continued  to  labour, 
and  a  few  weeks  before  his  death  he  took  for  his 
subject  the  four  last  verses  in  2d  epistle  to  Timo- 
thy ;  giving  as  a  reason  why  he  chose  several  vers- 
es, that  he  should  not  live  to  finish  them  if  he  were 
more  particular.  He  dwelt  chiefly  upon  these  words, 
Grace  be  with  you  all.  When  he  could  preach  no 
longer,  he  was  visited  by  his  pious  friends,  to  whom 
he  administered  consolation  and  good  instruction. 
He  died  in  peace,  and  the  last  words  he  uttered 
were  pious  and  benevolent  wishes  to  a  friend  who 
was  endeavouring  to  soften  the  pillow  of  death  ; 
and  which  caused  others  to  say  of  him,  that  he  was 
a  good  maUy  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Mr.  Cotton  married  twice,  and  left  a  number  of 
children.  His  descendants  have  spread  over  the 
country,  and  though  no  one  has  appeared  equal  to 
him  in  a  rich  variety  of  learning  atid  popular  talents, 
yet  several  of  them  have  been  eminent  as  preachers, 
and  among  the  civilians  of  our  country.  He  pub- 
lished many  works  ;  some  in  Latin.  These  were 
printed  in  London,  and  they  have  since  been  re- 
printed in  New-  England.  Among  them  we  find 
milk  for  babes  ^  and  meat  for  strong  meUy  accord- 
ing to  their  power  of  digesting  the  spiritual  food. 

Some  difference  has  appeared  in  the  opinions  ex- 
pressed of  this  celebrated  man.  It  has  been  sug- 
gested, that  his  character  was  blazoned  beyond  its 
merit ;  for  his  biographers  were  Mr.  Norton,  his 
friend,  who  succeeded  him  as  teacher  of  the  old 
churchy  and  Cotton  Mather,  his  grandson.  But  his 
character  was  high  before  he  came  to  this  country. 
We  have  taken  our  account  from  books  which  were 
not  published  by  any  near  relation,  nor  by  men  who 
were  much  prejudiced  in  his  favour.  His  learn- 
ing was  allowed  by  all  his  contemporaries  ;  his  pi- 
ety and  zeal  none  could  doubt,  for  he  sacrificed  his 
ease,  his  interest,  and  his  country,  to  enjoy  the  or- 
dinances of  religion.     His  candid  spirit  was  not  al- 


138  C  R  A 

ways  in  exercise.  In  the  phrenz)'  of  his  imagina- 
tion he  blamed  worthy  men,  and  censured  those 
who  had  great  claim  to  his  respect  and  affection  ; 
yet  governour  Winthrop,  one  opposite  in  sentiment 
upon  politicks  and  religion,  says  of  him,  that  he  de- 
livered himself  in  a  gentle  manner  upon  a  subject 
which  interested  his  feelings,  and  though  he  cen- 
sures his  opinions,  speaks  with  respect  of  the  man. 
Others,  as  strong  in  their  own  sentimetits,  allow 
him  candour  and  forbearance. 

In  those  instances  where  he  discovered  intolerance 
and  the  spirit  of  bigotry,  a  zeal  for  ecclesiastical 
power,  he  only  manifested  the  inconsistency  of  hu- 
man nature.  It  is  a  true  observation,  that  when 
men  begin  to  taste  of  christian  liberty  themselves, 
they  forget  that  other  men  have  an  equal  title  to  en- 

Such  flagrant  instances  of  inconsistency  are  so 
evident  among  christians,  of  all  denominations,  that 
it  cannot  be  imputed  as  a  reproach  peculiar  to  any 
sect.  Instead  of  disturbing  the  ashes  of  our  ancestors, 
by  repeating  that  the  "  very  men  who  had  fled  from 
persecution  became  persecutors,"  we  had  better 
imitate  their  virtues,  throw  a  mantle  over  their  fail- 
ings, let  instruction  spring  from  their  graves,  and 
hope  to  meet  them  in  that  better  world  where  just 
men  are  made  perfect. 

Cradock  Matthew,  one  of  the  principal  un- 
dertakers of  the  New- England  settlements,  was  an 
opulent  merchant  in  London  ;  they  first  chose  him 
their  governour,  May  23,  1628;  but  afterwards  they 
determined  to  choose  into  ofEce  only  those,  who 
went  to  America,  with  the  patent.  Therefore  he  re- 
signed the  place  to  Mr.  Winthrop.  ''  He  was  more 
forward  in  advancing  out  of  his  substance  than  any 
other,  being  the  highest  in  all  subscriptions.  He 
continued,  divers  years,  to  carry  on  a  trade  in  the 
colony,  by  his  servants,  but  never  visited  the  plan- 
tation. ' '    Hutc/mson. 


C  U  S  139 

Cranfield  Edward,  governour  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, was  an  English  gentleman  and  received  his 
commission,  1682.  He  exchanged  a  profitable  of- 
fice at  home  to  better  his  fortune  in  New-  England. 
As  soon  as  he  came  over,  he  exercised  his  power  in. 
an  arbitrary  manner,  and  acted  the  same  part  in  that 
province  which  sir  Edmund  Andross  did  in  Massa- 
chusetts. 

He  came  to  Boston  the  year  after  his  appoint- 
ment, and  pretended  a  regard  to  the  colony,  but 
led  them  into  measures  which  hurried  the  second 
^warrant  against  their  charter.  He  represented  to 
the  court  of  Massachusetts,  that  2000  guineas  to  be 
given  to  lord  Hyde,  *'  for  his  majesty's  private  ser- 
vice," would  be  of  great  advantage  to  the  province, 
and  afterwards  made  sport  of  their  credulity,  and 
his  own  artifice  and  deception.  In  a  ktter  which 
Dudley  wrote  to  gov.  Bradstreet,  he  tells  him, 
*'  Truly,  sir,  we  are  ridiculed,  by  our  best  friends, 
for  the  shame  Cranfield  put  upon  you.  His  majes- 
ty told  my  friend,  that  he  represented  us  as  disloy- 
al rogues." 

In  New  Hampshire,  Cranfield  assumed  so  much 
power,  that  the  publick  grievances  became  insup- 
portable. They  chose  an  agent  to  make  their  com- 
plaints at  the  court  of  Great  Britain.  In  the  mean 
while  the  governour  was  at  a  loss  how  to  raise  money 
for  himself  and  the  necessary  publick  expences.  He 
called  an  assembly  in  1682,  and  the  same  year  dis- 
solved them.  He  then  ventured  upon  a  project  of 
taxing  the  people  without  their  consent.  But  he 
found  "  all  his  efforts  ineffectual,  and  his  authority 
contemptible."  The  complaint  was  taken  up  by 
the  lords  of  trade,  and  decided  against  him.  He 
lost  the  government  after  enjoying  a  kind  of  honour 
a  few  years  without  the  profits  he  had  calculated  up- 
on ;  and  was  glad  afterwards  to  be  appointed  col- 
lector of  Barbadoes.     Belknap.    Hutchinson. 

CusHiNG  Thomas,  speaker  of  the  house  of  re- 
presentatives, 1746,  was  the  son  of  the  hon.  Tho- 


140  C  U  S 

mas  Gushing,  one  of  his  majesty's  council.  The 
father  was  among  the  New  England  worthies,  and 
the  son  as  much  celebrated  for  his  goodness  as  his 
superior  abilities.  Mr.  Prince  speaks  of  him,  as  a 
man  of  excellent  acquired  gifts  and  natural  under- 
standing, well  acquainted  with  affairs  of  the  world, 
with  men  and  things,  with  our  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
constitution,  with  human  nature  and  divinity.  ^'  My 
acquaintance,"  says  he,  ''began  with  the  table  con- 
versation. I  found,  with  surprise  and  pleasure,  that 
in  a  small,  feeble,  relaxed  body,  there  dwelt  a  great, 
a  lively,  a  strong  and  well  composed  soul.  Our  en- 
tertainments were  an  agreeable  variety  of  divinity, 
history,  civil  and  religious  matters,  or  natural  phi- 
losophy ;  or  observations  on  present  occurrences 
and  transactions,  either  in  town  or  land,  or  other 
parts  of  the  world  ;  as  various  subjects  happened  to 
occur,  with  a  candid  freedom  ;  his  genius  inclining 
him  either  to  unbiassed  reasoning,  or  agreeable  ob- 
servations." 

This  excellent  man  was  born  in  Boston,  1693 ;  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1714.  Reacquired 
considerable  property,  beside  what  he  received  from 
his  father,  to  whose  business  he  succeeded.  He  very 
soon  distinguished  himself,  as  one  of  the  best  speakers 
in  the  town  meeting ;  and  in  1729,  was  one  of  their 
committee  to  draw  up  the  instructions  for  their  re- 
presentatives. In  17S1.  he  was  chosen  representa- 
tive for  the  town,  and  continued  in  this  office  as 
long  as  he  lived.  During  Belcher's  administration, 
when  the  town  saw  fit  to  change  three  of  their  re- 
presentatives, he  was  the  one  who  claimed  their  re- 
spect, and  all  the  votes  were  in  his  favour  He  once 
was  elected  treasurer  of  the  province,  which  trust 
he  could  not  accept  on  account  of  the  multiplicity  of 
his  other  business.  In  1  73 9  he  was  appointed  agent  of 
the  province  to  the  court  of  Great  Britain,  but  his  in- 
firm state  of  health  prevented  him  from  taking  the 
voyage.  He  was  speaker  of  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives,  A.  D.  1742,  and  was  chosen  annually  till  he 


C  U  S  141 

died,  1746,  in  the  53d  year  of  his  age.  The  loss 
was  felt  by  the  publick,  as  he  was  in  the  midst  of  his 
usefulness.  Mr.  Gushing  married  a  daughter  of 
the  hon.  Edward  Bromfield,  and  left  two  daughters 
and  one  son.* 

Gushing  THOMAs,lieut.  governour  of  Massachu- 
setts, was  the  son  of  Mr.  speaker  Gushing,  and  rose 
to  higher  offices  in  the  state  than  his  father  or  grand- 
father, each  of  whom  had  been  distinguished  with 
peculiar  honours.  He  had  good  talents,  and  was  a 
very  useful  man  in  many  departments,  though  he 
had  not  their  splendid  abilities.  He  was  graduated 
at  Harvard  Gollege,  1744;  engaged  in  mercantile 
business,  but  his  mind  was  turned  much  to  political 
affairs.  The  father  enjoyed  the  affluence  of  wealth 
with  all  the  honours  his  councry  could  bestow  upon 
him  :  the  son  was  fonder  of  publick  life,  and  paid 
too  little  attention  to  pecuniary  considerations.  He 
was  sent  representatative  from  his  native  town  for  a 
number  of  years,  and,  A.  D.  1763,  when  the  gov- 
ernour negatived  Mr.  Otis,  who  had  been  chosen 
speaker,  he  was  elected  in  his  place  ;  and  he  con- 
thmed  to  fill  the  chair,  till  he  was  chosen  one  of  the 
members  of  the  congress  which  met  at  Philadelphia, 
1774.  He  was  then  commissary  general,  but  the 
province  was  in  such  a  state,  that  there  was  no  great 
call  for  a  person  in  this  office,  nor  did  any  material 
profit  attend  it.  In  1779  Mr.  Gushing  declined  go- 
ing to  Gongress  ;    and  the  government  of  Massa- 

•  Mr.  Bromfield,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Cusbing,  according  to  Mr. 
Prince,  was  one  of  the  distinguished  worthies  of  New  England, 
whose  names  will  appear  in  characters  of  honour  in  the  annals 
of  our  church  and  state.  His  son,  E,  Bromfield,  esq.  who  died, 
J756,  was  one  of  the  Boston  representatives,  1739.  He  was  on 
the  popular  side  when  the  prejudices  of  the  town  were  so  strong 
against  gov.  Belcher.  In  the  house  he  acted  in  concert  with 
Gushing,  Allen,  &c.  "  the  firm,  uncorrupted  patriot,  careful  to 
assert  the  just  prerogative  of  the  crown,  and  to  defend  the  inval- 
uable liberties  of  the  people."  He  was  for  many  years  selectman 
and  overseer  of  the  poor,  which  ojffices  he  discliarged.  He  was 
a  gentleman  in  high  esteem  while  he  lived,  and  his  death  wfts 
greatly  lamented. 


142  C  U  S 

chusetts  being  then  organized,  he  was  elected  to  the 
second  office  in  the  state.  He  was  lieut.  governour 
from  the  time  he  was  chosen  till  his  death,  1788. 

There  was  a  time  when  Mr.  C.  was  considered 
in  Great  Britain  as  the  leader  of  the  whigs  in  this 
country.  He  was  not  esteemed  so  in  Boston.  He 
had  less  political  zeal  than  Otis,  or  Adams,  or  Han- 
cock ;  but  by  his  pleasant  temper,  his  moderation, 
his  conversing  with  men  of  different  parties,  though 
he  sometimes  was  lashed  by  their  strokes  for  want 
of  firmness,  he  obtained  more  influence  than  either, 
except  Mr.  Hancock.  The  reason  of  his  being 
known  so  much  in  the  mother  country  was,  that  his 
name  was  signed  to  all  the  publick  papers,  as  speak- 
er of  the  house.  Hence  he  was  sometimes  exposed 
to  the  sarcasms  of  the  ministerial  writers.  In  the 
pamphlet  of  Dr.  Johnson,  called,  *'  Taxation  no 
Tyranny,"  one  object  of  the  Americans  is  said  to  be, 

to  adorn  the  brows  of  Mr.  C -g  with  a  diadem.'' 

He  had  a  rank  among  the  patriots,  as  a  sincere  friend 
to  the  publick  good,  and  he  was  also  a  friend  to  re- 
ligion, which  he  manifested  by  a  constant  attendance 
upon  all  pious  institutions.  He  was  also  very  at- 
tentive to  the  affairs  of  the  college,  an  example  to 
others  of  the  overseers,  being  often  chairman  of 
committees,  and  always  present  at  the  board ;  he 
was  also  fellow  of  the  corporation  from  the  year 
1785,  in  which  Mr.  Bowdoin  resigned.  He  re- 
ceived a  diploma  ot  doctor  of  laws  from  the  univer- 
sity. 

Mr.  Gushing  left  a  number  of  children  ;  one  of 
his  daughters  married  John  Avery,  esq.  who  for 
many  years  was  secretary  of  the  commonwealth.* 

*  Mr,  Avery  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1759  ;  succeed- 
ed  Samuel  Adams  as  secretary,  1780,  and  died,  June,  1806,  He 
was  secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Humane  Society.  He  was 
buried  on  the  day  of  their  semi  annual  meeting.  Their  orator, 
in  the  midst  of  his  discourse,  alludes  to  the  funeral  knell  which 
then  called  them  to  p-iy  their  respects  to  their  worthy  officer,  aii 
**early,  active  and  important  member  of  the  society.'* 


C  U  S  14S 

C us HMAN  Robert,  one  of  the  original  planters 
of  New  England,  was  a  member  of  Mr.  Robinson's 
church  at  Leyden.  He  was  chosen  agent,  with  Mr. 
Carver,  to  treat  with  the  Virginia  company,  when 
our  fathers  had  fixed  their  purpose  to  make  a  settle- 
ment in  North  America.  The  object  of  their  mis- 
sion  was  to  obtain  certain  privileges,  if  they  lived 
in  the  British  dominions,  especially  the  rights  of 
conscience.  They  met  with  great  discouragements, 
and  did  not  succeed.  The  next  year  he  was  sent 
upon  the  same  business  with  Mr.  Bradford.  A  let- 
ter from  Mr.  Cushman,  May  8,  1619,  represents 
the  affairs  of  the  Virginia  company  as  being  in  great 
confusion.  It  was  on  account  of  introducing  Ed- 
ward Sandy  in  the  place  of  secretary,  in  the  room  of 
sir  Thomas  Smith,  of  whom  there  is  a  minute  ac- 
count in  Smith's  history  of  Virginia.  In  autumn 
of  this  same  year  the  Leyden  agents  procured  a  pa- 
tent, confirmed  by  the  company's  seal.  When  these 
religious  adventurers  set  sail,  Mr.  Cushman  was  in 
the  smaller  vessel,  which  proved  leaky  and  was  con- 
demned, but  afterwards  he  sailed  for  New  England 
in  the  ship  Fortune  and  arrived  at  Plymouth,  Nov. 
10,  1621.  He  returned  to  England,  and  died  in  the 
year  1626.  The  news  of  his  death  reached  the  new 
settlement  at  the  same  time  they  heard  ot  the  loss  of 
their  venerable  pastor,  Mr.  Robinson.  Among  the 
bitter  ingredients  mingled  in  their  cup,  they  sor- 
rowed most  of  all,  that  they  should  see  their  faces 
no  more.* 

*  A  sermon  of  Mr.  Cushman  which  he  preached  to  the  Ply- 
mouth settlers  upon  self-love^  was  printed  in  England,  1622,  and 
reprinted  in  Boston,  1724.  Another  edition  of  it  was  printed  in 
Plymouth,  1785.  Memoirs  of  Mr.  Cushman  are  annexed, 
handsomely  written  by  judge  Davis,  who  was  then  an  inhabitant 
of  that  town.  This  account  makes  one  of  the  lives  in  the  Ameri- 
can Biography.  The  dedication  of  this  sermon  is  curious.  It  is. 
To  his  loving  friends  the  adventurers  for  New  England,  together 
with  all  well-willers  and  well-wishes  thereunto,  grace,  peace,  &c. 
He  describes  New  England,  "  as  an  island,  about  the  quantity  of 
England,  being  cut  out  of  the  main  land  m  America,  as  England 
is  of  Europe.'*  A  parliamentary  speaker,  in  1774,  speaks  of  th?; 
island  of  New  England. 


144  CUT 

Cutler  Timothy,  rector  of  Yale  College  and 
minister  of  Christ  Church,  Boston,  was  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College,  1701  ;  was  ordained 
at  Stratford,  (Conn.)  1710,  according  to  the  or- 
der of  the  New  England  churches.  He  was  ap- 
pointed rector  of  the  college  in  New  Haven,  1719, 
which  was,  as  has  been  said,  an  auspicious  event  to 
that  institution,  for  he  was  a  man  of  profound 
learning  and  presided  with  dignity,  usefulness  and 
general  approbation.  In  1723,  he  conformed  to  the 
church  of  England.  Being  joined  by  several  of  the 
tutors  and  neighbouring  clergy,  and  himself  the 
first  scholar  in  the  colony,  it  was  a  great  shock  to 
the  congregational  establishment.  A  church  was 
built  for  him  in  Boston  of  which  he  was  rector  from 
1723  to  1765,  the  year  of  his  death.  He  did  not 
publish  any  thing  except  a  few  single  sermons.  His 
powers  were  rather  solid  than  brilliant,  and  he  was 
too  much  of  a  scholar  to  allow  any  thing  superficial 
to  come  from  his  hand.  It  was  in  this  language  he 
spake  of  most  publications ;  those  which  were  writ- 
ten  by  ministers  of  the  episcopal  church,  and  those 
whose  sentiments  and  mode  of  worship  might  pro- 
voke sarcastick  remarks.  He  was  haughty  and 
overbearing  in  his  manners  ;  and  to  a  stranger,  in 
the  pulpit,  appeared  as  a  man  fraught  with  pride. 
He  never  could  win  the  rising  generation,  because 
he  found  it  so  difficult  to  be  condescending  :  nor 
had  he  intimates  of  his  own  age  and  flock.  But 
people  of  every  denomination  looked  upon  him  with 
a  kind  of  veneration,  and  his  extensive  learning  ex- 
cited esteem  and  respect  where  there  was  nothing 
to  move,  or  hold  the  affections  of  the  heart. 

Dr.  Stiles  calls  him  the  greatest  oriental  scholar 
after  Thomas  Thacher^  the  first  minister  of  the  Old 
South,  and  the  great  president  Chauncy.  No  man 
in  New  England,  he  tells  us,  had  such  knowledge 
of  the  rector  and  those  gentleman.  All  which  may 
be  true.  Wc  have  sufficient  documents  to  show 
that  they  understood  Hebrew,  and  no  one  who  re- 


DAN  145 

collects  Dr.  Cutler  will  doubt  of  his  being  *<  well 
skilled  in  logirk,  metaphysicks,  moral  philosophy^ 
theology  and  ecclesiastical  history. " 

His  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity,  was  presented 
to  him  when  he  was  in  England.  His  correspon- 
dence with  other  doctor  i  or  with  bishops,  was  never 
carried  on  with  so  much  zeal,  spirit  and  persever- 
ance as  w^e  find  mentioned  in  the  biographical  sketch- 
es of  his  brethren  ;  nor  do  we  read  of  any  produc- 
tion of  his,  among  the  controversies  between  epis- 
copalians and  dissenters,  during  his  long  ministry. 
Yet  they  all  looked  up  to  him  as  a  father,  and  he 
certainly  was  more  eminent  as  a  scholar  than  those 
who  served  their  cause  by  their  writings. 

Mr.  Hooper  of  Trinity  church  preached  the  fu- 
neral discourse  and  gave  the  character  of  this  dis- 
tinguished missionary  of  their  church,  with  much 
justice  and  his  usual  eloquence. 

DanforthThom  As,deputy  governour  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  was  elected  a  magistrate  in  1659. 
From  this  year  he  was  assistant  till  1679,  when  Mr^ 
Bradstreet  being  put  into  the  chair,  he  succeeded 
him  as  deputy.  He  had  a  great  share  of  duty  upon 
him,  and  with  resolution  and  firmness  conducted 
the  publick  affairs  in  the  most  difficult  times. 
Mr.  Hutchinson,  speaking  of  three  parties  during 
sir  Edmund  Andross's  administration  and  the  times 
preceding,  says,  ''  the  head  of  those  on  the  side  of 
royalty  were  Dudley,  Stoughton,  &c.  Mr.  Brad- 
strect,the  governour.by  the  voice  of  the  people, was 
the  head  of  the  moderate  party.  Danforth  led  the 
opposition,  assisted  by  Cooke."  Though  he  con- 
ducted  with  prudence,  he  would  yield  no  privilege 
which  the  charter  gave  them.  Hence  he  was  ob- 
noxious to  Randolph,  Andross,  and  to  the  ministry 
of  Great  Britain.  For  the  same  reason  he  was  the 
idol  of  the  populace  in  New  England.  He  acted  as 
president  of  the  council  when  the  people  took  the 
government  from  Andross,  and  had  it  not  been  for 
his  influence,  they  would  have  gone  to  gre^iter  ex^ 

IT 


146  DAN 

travagancies.  The  extracts  of  his  letters  which  are 
preserved  show  that  he  had  prudence  and  wisdom 
in  conducting  measures,  though  he  was  fierce  in 
opposition  to  arbitrary  mandates.  When  the  officers 
of  the  old  government  were  restored  to  their  places, 
Mr.  Bradstreet  was  again  governour  and  Mr.  Dan- 
forth  the  deputy.*  \  hey  held  their  offices  till  the 
charter  of  VVilliam  and  Mary  arrived.  He  was  then 
deprived  of  his  place,  and  his  name  was  not  suffi^T- 
ed  to  remain  as  one  of  the  counsellors,  although  the 
agents  expressed  a  particular  desire  to  have  it.  The 
people  received  the  intelligence  with  surprise  and 
grief;  but  it  was  easy  for  politicians  to  account  for 
the  omission,  as  he  was  against  receiving  any  other 
charter  than  that  which  the  fathers  of  Massachusetts 
held  sacred.  We  hear  nothing  more  of  him  in 
publick  life.  He  passed  his  days  in  the  town  of 
Cambridge.  His  only  son,  Samuel,  who  died  in 
England,  was  graduated  1771  ;  was  fellow  of  Har- 
vard College,  and  a  fine  scholar.  "  The  name  of 
Danforth  in  another  line  is  preserved,  and  few 
names  have  exhibited  more  literary  characters. 
Mather.     Hutchinson, 

Danforth  Samufl,  minister  of  Roxbury,  came 
into  New  England,  1134,  with  his  father,  Nathaniel 
Danforth,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1643, 
was  chosen  a  fellow  of  the  corporation,  and  instruct- 
ed a  class ;  he  was  very  respectable  for  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  sciences  and  theology.    Being  invited  to 

*  The  ancient  magistrates  and  elders,  altliough  they  strenu- 
ously advised  to  further  waiting  for  oiders  from  England,  and 
discouraged  any  attempts  of  that  nature,  »*  as  far  as  they  had  op- 
portunitv,  yet  \vere  they  now  compelled  to  assist  with  then-  pre- 
sence and  councils  for  the  preventing  of  bloodshed,  which  had 
been  most  certainly  the  issue,  if  prudent  councils  had  not  been 
given  to  both  parties."     Danfurth's  letter  to  agent  Mather. 

When  Mr  Danforth  was  appointed  deputy  governour,  he  had 
likewise  another  commission,  president  of  the  province  of  Maine, 
to  govern  under  the  Massachu»etts,the  lords  proprietories,and  to 
be  accountable  to  them ;  thither  he  repaired,  1779,  appointed  offi- 
cers held  courts,  &c.  In  that  station  also  he  opposed  Andross's 
usurpation. 


DAN  147 

settle  colleague  pastor  with  Mr.  F.liot  at  Roxbury, 
he  was  ordained,  1650.  He  died,  1674,  in  the  midst 
of  his  life  and  usefulness.  Dr.  Mather  says  he  wrote 
as  a  scholar,  yet  "  was  very  aflPectionate  in  his  man- 
ner of  preaching,  and  seldom  left  the  pulpit  without 
tears."  He  married  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Wilson, 
the  first  minister  of  Boston,  and  was  blessed  with 
twelve  children,  some  of  whom  died  before  him. 
Tw^o  of  his  sons  were  distinguibhed  among  the  di- 
vines of  this  state.  One  of  Dorchester,  and  the 
other  was  settled  at  Taunton.  One  of  his  daughters 
married  the  hon.  Mr.  Bromfield,  of  Boston.* 


*  When  ?vlr  D.  died,  old  Mr.  Efiot  wrote  verses  and  Mr. 
Weld  likewise.  It  was  then  very  common.  The  Dorchester 
burial  ground  is  Famous  for  the  epitaphs  on  gravestones,  many 
of  which  were  written  by  Mr.  D.  the  minister  of  that  town. 
If  we  regard  the  spirit  rather  than  the  metre,  we  might  be  edified 
by  reading  them.  But  lest  the  rising  generation  should  "  play 
with  the  beard  of  their  fathers/'  which  the  author  of  the  Mag- 
nalia  says  is  a  wicked  thing,  it  is  best  that  most  of  them  should 
be  buried  with  the  mouldering  stone.  A  Latin  epitaph  upon  the 
Roxbury  divine  may  excite  pleasure  with  remarks. 
Non  dubium,  quin  eo  iverit,  quo  stellae  eunt 
Dahforthus,  qui  steliis  semper  se  associavit. 

This  epitaph  alludes  to  the  studies  of  Mr.  D.  "  Several  of  his 
cMronomical  composures  have  seen  the  light  of  the  sun,"  says 
Dr.  Mather.  He  published  a  particular  account  of  the  comet, 
1664.  He  observed  the  motions  of  it,  '^  from  its  first  appearance 
in  Corvus,  whence  it  crossed  the  tropick  of  Capricoin,  till  it  ar- 
rived at  the  maintop  sail  of  the  ship,  and  then  it  returned  through 
Canis  Major,  and  again  crossed  the  tropick  of  Capricorn,"  &c. 
There  is  no  theological  publication  of  his,  except  we  consider 
his  election  sermon  as  such,  which  is  a  recognition  of  J\iew  Eng- 
land s  errand  into  the  wilderness.     It  was  delivered  1670. 

The  rev.  Samuel  Danforth,  of  Taunton,  was  born,  1666  ;  gradu- 
ated, 1683  ;  died,  1727.    He  preached  the  election  sermon,  1714. 

The  rev.  John  Danforth  was  born,  1664  ;  graduated,  1677  ;  or- 
dained, at  Dorchester,  1682  ;  died  1730.  '^  He  understood  math- 
ematicks  ;  had  a  taste  for  poetry  and  various  learning."  His 
printed  works  are,  a  sermon  on  parting  with  friends  ;  a  sermon 
on  contentment ;  a  sermon  on  Rom.  i  21,  1710  ;  a  funeral  ser- 
mon on  Mr.  Bromfield  ;  two  sermons  on  the  earthquake,  1727  ; 
a  fast  sermon.  Exod.  ix,  33.  34. 

The  hon.  Samuel  Dantorth  of  Cambridge  was  the  son  of  Mr. 
Danforth  of  Dorchester,     He  was  president  of  his  majesty's 


148  DA  V 

Davenport  John,  minister  of  the  first  church 
in  Boston,  died  suddenly  of  an  apoplexy,  March  15, 
1670.  He  was  a  celebrated  divine  in  England  as 
well  as  this  new  region  of  the  earth,  where  he  lived 
from  the  year  1637  to  the  time  of  his  removal  to  a 
better  world. 

Dr.  Mather  quotes  a  saying  of  the  learned,  con- 
cerning Sulmasius,  and  applies  it  to  him.  Fir  nun- 
qiiam  satis  laudatus^  nee  temere  sine  laiide  nomi- 
na?idus,'*'' 

He  was  born,  A.  D.  1597,  at  a  place  called  Co- 
ventry. His  parents  were  respectable  and  gave  him 
a  good  education.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  a 
student  of  Brazen  Nose  College,  Oxford,  where  he 
received  a  degree  of  B.  \,  and  though  a  youth,  im- 
mediately began  to  preach.  He  preached  constant- 
ly in  the  city  of  London  in  the  time  of  the  plague, 
and  visited  his  flock  as  a  faithful  minister,  which 
gained  him  great  credit  among  those  who  knew 
how  to  estimate  worth  that  was  then  as  rare,  as  it 
was  pure.  For  what  can  prayers  signify,  if  a  minis- 
ter does  not  mingle  offices  of  humanity  with  his  pi- 
ous walk  ;  this  gives  a  perfume  to  the  sacrifice. 
He  afterwards  received  the  degrees  of  A*  M.  and 
bachelor  of  divinity, 

About  the  year  1626,  there  was  a  plan  devised  to 
make  a  purchase  of  impropriations,  and  with  the 
profits  of  the  same  to  maintain  a  number  of  minis- 
ters who  would  assist  in  reforming  abuses.  Mr. 
Davenport  was  in  connexion  with  Dr.  Sibs,  Dr. 
Gouge,  and  several  laymen,  one  of  vvhoiti  was  lord 
mayor  of  London.  But  archbishop  Laud  took  um- 
brage at  it,  as  favouring  nonconformity  and  obtain- 
ed a  bill  to  be  exhibited  in  the  exchequer  chamber^ 
when  the  court  condemned  the  proceedings,  and 
pronounced  the  gifts,  feoff'ments  and  contrivances  to 
be  illegal  ;  and  confiscated  the  money  to  the  king's 
use. 

council  several  years.  In  1774,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
mandamus  council.  He  died  1777,  aged  81.  He  was  suid  to  be 
a  great  natural  philosopher  and  chyiuist. 


D  A  V  149 

Soon  after  this  Mr.  D  became  so  much  of  a  non- 
conformist, as  to  be  an  object  of  publick  notice,  and 
in  consequence  of  it,  he  resigned  his  pastoral  office 
in  Colman  street,  and  passed  over  into  Holland. 
This  was  about  the  end  of  the  year  1633. 

He  soon  opened  a  controversy  with  the  Dutch  di- 
vines upon  the  subject  of  baptism,  and  tried  to  in- 
troduce the  practice  which  he  wrote  so  much  in  fa- 
vour of  afterwards,  and  which  has  been  a  controver- 
sy in  New  England  ever  since  he  came  into  the 
country,  viz.  *'  Whether  the  children  of  communi- 
cants only  should  be  admitted  to  the  ordinance?" 

He  went  back  again  to  England,  1635  He  vras 
one  of  those  by  whom  the  patent  of  the  Massachu- 
setts colony  was  made  out,  though  his  name  was 
not  among  the  patentees.  He  did  this  before  he 
went  to  Holland,  and  there  hearing  of  the  progress 
and  prosperity  of  New  England,  he  resolved  to  come 
over  and  make  a  settlement,  which  he  did>  being 
considered  as  one  of  the  fathers  of  New  Haven  colo- 
ny. 

He  arrived  at  Boston,  1637,  with  Mr.  Hopkins, 
two  London  merchants,  and  several  other  worthies, 
who  did  not  incline  to  settle  within  the  jurisdiction 
of  Massachusetts.  They  were  offered  any  spot  the}' 
might  fix  upon,  and  urged  to  unite  with  the  people 
of  this  colony,  but  they  were  disposed  to  form  a 
new  plantation.  Mr.  Davenport  was,  however,  in 
vited  to  sit  with  the  synod  at  Cambridge.  And  Dr, 
Mather  tells  us,  his  learning  and  wisdom  did  con- 
tribute more  than  a  little  to  dispel  the  mist  of  errors 
which  then  overspread  the  country.  While  he  was 
minister  of  New  Haven,  he  was  invited  to  join  the 
Westminster  Assembly  with  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr. 
Hooker,  and  he  had  an  inclination  to  cross  the  At- 
lantick,  but  the  other  gentlemen  did  not  suppose  it 
w^ould  answer  any  special  purpose,  or  thought  less 
of  the  honour  ;  nor  were  his  church  willing  to  part 
with  him.  It  certainly  was  more  proper  for  him  to 
lead  the  few  sheep  in  this  American  wilderness^ 


15C  D  A  V 

than  to  display  his  gifts  amidst  so  much  wisdom,  as 
was  collected  in  that  part  of  the  kingdom.  If  he 
had  gone  to  England  he  might  have  been  as  zealous 
as  Hugh  Peters,  who  went  over  as  agent  for  Mas^a» 
chusetts  about  this  time.  In  this  country  he  acted  a 
part  which  made  him  almost  as  obnoxious  to  Charles 
11.  He  concealed  two  of  the  regicides  in  his  own 
house,  and  instigated  the  people  of  that  government 
by  his  publick  preaching,*  to  protect  these  unfortu- 
nate men,  and  not  suffer  the  king's  commissioners 
to  execute  tl\eir  purpose. 

Mr.  Davenport  was  threatened  with  the  vengeance 
of  regal  authority  for  concealing  traitors,  and  had 
reason  to  dread  the  consequences  of  his  democrat- 
ick  zeal,  mingled  as  it  was  with  motives  of  humani- 
ty.  Upon  this  gen.  Whaley  and  Goffe  offered  to 
surrender,  and  appeared  publickly  in  several  places. 
It  is  supposed  they  would  have  done  this  rather 
than  Mr.  D.  should  suffer  on  their  account.  But 
when  he  was  no  longer  exposed  to  any  particular 
danger,  and  the  commissioners  had  manifested  their 
resentment  otherwise,  they  again  concealed  them- 
selves. 

In  1667,  Mr.  D.  left  the  people  at  New  Haven 
and  came  to  Boston  to  succeed  Mr.  Norton,  the  min- 
ister  of  the  first  church.  This  caused  great  grief  to 
his  own  people,  and  divided  the  Boston  church. 
Dr.  Mather  quotes  an  observation  that  "  it  is  ill 
transplanting  a  tree  that  thrives  in  the  soil."  He 
might  have  said  that  a  tree  should  never  be  trans- 
planted which  has  past  its  growth.  It  will  die  be- 
fore it  will  yield  much  fruit,  however  rich  the  soil 
In  which  it  is  fixed.     His  making  this  exchange  of 

•  "  About  the  time  the  pursuers  came  to  New  Haven,  or  a 
little  betore,  and  to  prepate  the  minds  ot  the  people  for  their  re- 
ception, Mr.  Davenport  preached  publicklv  from  this  text,  Isaiah, 
Xvi  3,  4.  Take  counsel,  execute  judc^ment,  make  thy  shadow  as 
tlie  night  in  the  midst  of  the  noon  day,  bewray  not  him  that  wan- 
dereth  ;  let  mine  outcasts  dwell  with  thee.  Moab,  be  thou  a 
covert  tor  them,  fro  u  the  face  of  the  spoiler.  This  doubtless  had 
its  effect,"  Sec.     Stiles*  s  history  of  the  judges. 


DIX  151 

iituafion  was  unhappy  for  himself  as  well  as  the 
churches.  It  was  too  late  in  life  to  form  new  con- 
nexions ;  and  to  leave  old  friends,  whose  hearts  had 
been  tried  by  many  scenes  of  adversity,  was  a  wound 
to  his  own  sensibility,  especially  as  they  were  hurt 
bv  his  conduct. 

He  died,  March  15,    1770,  of  an  apoplexy,  aged 
72  years.*     MagJialia. 

Denison  Danill,  major  general,  was  an  in- 
habitant of  the  town  of  Ipswich.  He  was  the  au» 
thor  of  a  treatise  called  the  Irenicon.  ''His  parts 
and  abilities  were  well  known  amongst  those  with 
whom  he  lived,  and  might  justly  place  him  among 
the  first  three,  having  indeed  many  natural  advan- 
tages above  others  for  t)ie  more  easy  attaining  of 
skill  in  every  science."  Mr.  Hubbard,  from  whom 
this  quotation  is  made,  says  concerning  the  Irenicon^ 
which  was  found  among  his  papers  "  that  it  would 
be  ingratitude  to  withhold  it  from  the  publickview." 
It  might  suit  other  times.  It-t.  It  takes  into  con- 
sideration the  publick  maladies.  2d.  The  occa- 
sion of  them.  3d  The  danger.  4thly.  The  blame- 
able  causes.  5thly.  The  cure.  He  died  Sept, 
20,  I682.t 

DixwELL  John,  of  New  Haven,  was  one  of  the 
Regicides,  and  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  2di^ 

*  Works  — The  saint's  anchor  hold,  a  book  recommended  by- 
Mr.  Caryl  and  Mr.  Hook  ;  demonstration  of  Jesus  Christ  to  be 
the  true  Messiah  ;  election  sermon,  1669;  a  treatise  of  the  pow- 
er of  Congregational  cliurches  ;  a  discourse  upon  civil  govern- 
ment, in  a  new  plantation,  whose  end  is  relii^ion,  A  volume  of 
sermons  upon  the  Qanticles  was  transcribed  lor  the  press  but  ne^ 
ver  published. 

t  The  funeral  discourse  by  Mr.  H.  minister  of  Ipswich,  is 
from  Isaiah,  3  chap.  3  first  verses.  To  which  is  annexed  Ireni- 
con,  or  a  "  salve  for  New  England's  sore,  penned  by  the  said 
major  general,  and  left  behind  him  as  his  farewell  and  last  advice 
to  his  friends  of  the   Massachusetts." 

Mr.  Denison  pastor  of  the  church  hi  Ipswich  died  1679. 
What  relation  he  bore  to  the  general  I  have  never  been  able  to 
know,  nor  when  he  came  into  this  country.  His  name  is  not  in 
the  College  catalogue  and  the  church  records  are  lost. 


152  D  I  X 

came  over  into  America.  He  went  to  Hanaw  in 
the  first  place,  and  was  made  a  Burgess,  but  in 
1664,  he  visited  Wliallcy  and  Goffe  at  Hadle\ .  He 
went  the  same  year  to  New  Haven  and  there  he 
resided  till  his  death. 

Though  he  took  the  name  of  John  Davids,  yet  he 
was  known  to  many  •  but  they  were  his  friends,  and 
would  not  betray  him.  It  is  supposed  that  Ran- 
dolph had  some  suspicion  of  it,  and  communicated 
the  thought  to  sir  E.  Andross.  For  that  govern- 
our  once  stopped  at  New  Kaven  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  attended  Mr  Pierpont's  meeting.  Dixwell 
\v<[s  there  in  the  morning,  but  did  not  appear  in  the 
afternoon.  Sir  Edmund  asked  who  that  venerable 
old  man  was  ?  and  was  told  he  was  a  merchant  of 
such  a  name  ;  he  replied,  *'  that  he  knew  he  was 
not  a  merchant,  and  became  very  inquisitive  about 
him."*  Col.  Dixwell  was  an  officer,  who  received 
a  commission  from  the  parliament,  and  was  too 
much  of  a  republican  to  bow  the  knee  to  Cromwell. 
When  he  sat  among  the  judges,  it  was  rather  by 
persuasion,  than  his  own  wish  to  condemn  the  mon- 
arch. He  died  in  New  Haven,  March  18,  1688,  in 
the  82d  year  of  his  age.  His  son  took  the  name  of 
John  Dixwell,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  church 
in  North- street,  and  chosen  deacon,  afterwards  of- 
ficiated  as  ruling  member.  He  died  1721.  His 
posterity  are  chiefly  in  the  female  line,  but  the  name 
is  not  extinct. — Ludloiv,     Stiles, 

*  There  is  a  story  told  which  is  somewhat  charactenstick,of 
New  England.  When  sir  Edmund  attended  worship,  the  deacon 
read  a  psahn  which  ofTended  him  very  much,  as  he  thoufjht  it 
pointed.     The  first  verse  is, 

Why  dost  thou  tyrant,  boast  aLsroad, 

Thy  wicked  works  to  praise  ; 

Dost  thou  not  knovv  there  Is  a  God 

Whose  mercies  lead  always  ? 
They  told  sir  Edmund,  tliiit  it  was  a  psalm  in  course,  but  Dr. 
Stilts  thinks  if  they  read  psalms  in  course,  it  is  likely  the  deacon 
selected  this  to  touch  the  tet:hngs  of  the  j?jovernour.  A  question 
arises  concerning  the  fact  ;  whether  they  sung  the  psalms  of 
Sternhold  and  Hopkins  at  that  time  in  New-Enc^land  ?  They  did 
not  in  Msssachi'h^fjlts  cr  the  Old  Colony.  The  psalm  is  5 2d  of 
their  version. 


DO0  153 

Douglass  William,  M.  D.  a  native  of  Scot* 
land,  came  into  America  when  he  was    a   young 
man,  fixed  himself  in  the  north  part  of  Boston,  and 
was  a  writer  upon  politicks,  historical  occurrences, 
and  medicine.     When  Dr.   Mather  communicated 
to  him  the  success  of  Timonius  in   inoculating  for 
the  small  pox,  he  treated  the  account  with  contempt, 
though  recorded  in  the  transactions  of  the  Royal  So- 
ciety of  London.     When  Dr.  Boylston,  in  the  year 
1721,  inoculated  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston, 
and  met  with  the  greatest  success,  he  still  raved  a- 
gainst  Timonius  and  Mather,  as  well  as  this  brother 
physician.     He  was  a  man  of  great  learning,    but 
wanted  judgment  and  taste;  whatever  he  published 
was  in  a  very  slovenly  style.     He  wrote  many   po- 
litical essays,  in  the  newspapers,  which  were  gener- 
ally filled  with  sarcastick  remarks  upon  the  magis- 
trates, the  clergy,  the  physicians,  and  the  people  of 
New  England.     His    ''summary,"  or  *' historical 
account  of  the  British  settlements,"  was  published 
in  1748,  and  1753.      This  is  a  collection  of  things 
which  came  into  his  head,  whether  they  related  to 
his  family,  his  private  squabbles,  or  the  affairs  of 
the  publick.       He  would  not  take  pains  to  arrange 
his  materials,  or  to    inform  himself  of  particular 
facts.       He  was    so    opinionated   that    he    never 
would  correct  his  mistakes.       When  Cape  Breton 
was  taken,  it  frustrated  many  of  his  printed  de- 
clarations.      He  had   ridiculed  it,  because  it  was  a 
measure  of  Shirley's  administration,  and  called  that 
place    the     Dunkirk^    which    such    forces    would 
never  dare  to  assail.  But  though  the  plan  succeeded, 
it  did  not  make  any  difference   in    his    views.     In- 
stead of  having  his  pride  wounded,  he,   porcupine 
like,  wrapped  himself  in  his  own  down,  and  darted 
his  quills  at  others.     He  said  he   was  right  in  his 
conjectures,  but  fortune  would  always    wait    upon 
blunderers  and  quacks  ! 

Douglass  was  a  mathematician  ;  in  1743,  44,  he 
published  an  almanack,  which  was   useful   at  the 
w 


154  DOW 

time,  and  is  now  valuable  for  its  list  of  chronologi- 
cal events  ;  and  also  the  account  of  all  the  sove- 
reigns of  Europe  and  their  families.  It  was  called 
*'  Mercurius  Novanglicanus,"  by  William  Nadir, 
S.  X.  Q.  He  also  published  a  dissertation  upon 
"  the  Cynanche  Maligna,"  when  that  disorder  pre- 
vailed in  the  town,  in  1735,  36.* 

Downing  George,  one  of  the  first  class  of 
graduates,  at  Harvard  College, wasa  preacher  among 
the  Independents  in  l'>ngland,  during  the  usurpation 
of  Oliver  Cromwell.  He  was  chaplain  to  col. 
Okey's  regiment,  whom  he  afterwards  betrayed  to 
recommend  himself  to  the  court  of  Charles  2d. 

He  was  ready  to  serve  any  master  that  would  em- 
ploy him,  and  to  commit  any  act  of  treachery  for  the 
sake  of  a  reward.  The  protector  sent  him  as  his 
agent  into  Holland,  and  gave  him  this  recommen- 
dation,  '*  George  Downing  is  a  person  of  eminent 
quality,  and  alter  a  long  trial  of  his  fidelity,  probity, 
and  diligence  in  various  negotiations,  well  approved 
and  valued  by  us.  Him  we  have  thought  fit  to 
send  to  your  lordships,"  Sec. 

He  was  sent  likewise  by  Charles  II.  as  his  agent 
or  ambassador  to  the  states,  and  received  the  hon- 
our of  knighthood  from  his  majesty.  Here  he  laid 
a  scheme  to  seize  several  of  the  regicides,  at  the 
same  time  declaring  he  had  no  commission  to  do  it, 
and  that  they  were  in  perfect  safety.  Ludlow  speaks 
of  it  as  a  thing  more  flagitious  in  the  Dutch  nation 
than  in  this  renegado  politician.  For  they  were  un- 
der no  obligation  to  deliver  them  up,  and  had  pro- 
mised to  protect  them.  About  the  year  1672 
Downing  met  with  some  reverse  of  fortune.  The 
king  was  displeased  with  him,  and  put  him  in  pri- 

♦  Dr.  Douglass  abuses  Cotton  Mather  very  frequently ;  one 
thing  in  particular  he  tells  makes  him  an  object  of  ridicule.  The 
Doctor  had  said,  "  that  cats  may  have  the  small  pox,"  or  a  disor- 
der like  it.  Now  says  Douglas^  this  is  weak  beyond  description, 
because  *'  the  small  pox  is  peculiar  to  mankind,**  Ought  not 
some  writer  of  the  present  day  to  give  Cotton  Mather  due  credit. 
How  is  it  that  cows  have  the  small  pox  f 


DUD  155 

son.  It  is  said  that  he  was  confined  in  the  same 
room  where  col.  Okey  had  been  kept  before  his  exe- 
cution, once  his  friend  and  benefactor,  but  whose 
death  must  bring  to  his  conscience  accusations  of 
every  crime  a  treacherous  courtier  could  commit. 
He  was  again  received  into  favour  by  Charles,  and 
conducted  himself  with  more  prudence  and  mode- 
ration than  he  had  done  in  former  times.  Ludlow, 
and  others,  who  had  expressed  their  surprise  that 
George  Downing  should  succeed  such  a  man  as  sir 
William  Temple,  ambassador  to  the  states,  yet 
allow  that  he  did  some  things  well.  And  Hutchin- 
son says,  that  he  was  a  friend  to  New  England,  and 
did  every  thing  in  his  power  to  serve  this  country, 
when  many  enemies  were  active  in  exciting  the  re- 
sentment of  the  king  against  it.  He  was  brother  in 
law  of  gov.  Bradstreet,  and  held  a  correspondence 
with  him,  and  other  gentlemen  in  Massachusetts. 
He  died  in  the  year  1684. 

Dudley  Thomas,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Massachusetts,  who  came  over  in  the  Arabella,  was 
the  only  son  of  capt.  Roger  Dudley.  In  1 597  he 
was  at  the  siege  of  Amiens,  under  Henry  IV,  hav- 
ing a  captain's  commission  Irom  Queen  Elizabeth. 
Mr.  Hutchinson  says,  he  became  a  sober  noncon- 
formist from  hearing  Dodd,  Hildersham,  and  other 
puritan  divines  He  certainly  was  a  zealous  man  in 
whatever  he  undertook  as  appears  from  Winthrop's 
journal;  and  upon  some  occasions  he  discovered  ve- 
ry warm  passions.  That  he  was  a  very  prudent  man 
appears,  however,  from  his  good  conduct  in  the 
management  of  the  estate  of  the  earl  of  Northamp- 
ton, which  was  committed  to  his  care.  He  sat  un- 
der  Mr.  Cotton's  ministry,  before  the  planting  of 
Massachusetts.  When  he  came  over  in  the  Ara- 
bella, he  was  54  years  old,  but  his  strength  of  body, 
and  health  of  mind,  fitted  him  for  any  hardships. 
The  company  in  England  chose  Mr.  Winthrop 
governour  and  Mr.  Humphries  deputy  governour 
of  the  plantation.    Mr.  Humphries  did  not  embark 


155  DUD 

as  was  expected,  and  Mr.  Dudley  was  chosen  irt 
his  place,  in  1634,  he  was  chosen  governour,  and 
also  several  times  afterwards.  He  was  the  second 
in  authority  seven  or  eight  years,  sometimes  under 
Winthrop,  and  once  under  i  ndicot  He  was  ap- 
pointed major  general  in  1644  ;  this  was  a  new  of- 
fice in  the  plantation.  He  was  continued  in  the  magis* 
tracy  from  the  time  of  his  arrival  to  his  death,  which 
happened,  Juiy  31st,  1653,  in  the  77th  year  of  his 
age. 

He  was  upright  and  honest  in  his  disposition, 
blunt  in  his  manners,  and  withstood  magistrates 
and  ministers  when  he  thought  them  worthy  of  re- 
proof. Nor  would  he  yield  to  any  popular  opinion 
to  gain  honour  and  authority.  A  serious  dispute 
took  place  between  him  and  governour  Winthrop, 
which  required  the  interposition  of  their  friends 
among  the  clergy  and  laity.  He  was  more  firm  in 
the  Hutc hinsoni an ^  or  Aniimon'mn  controversy,  than 
any  of  the  magistrates,  and  even  accused  Mr.  Cot- 
ton of  departing  from  the  faith  ;  and  without  preju- 
dice or  attachment  from  prior  connexions,  required 
an  explanation  of  his  principles  and  conduct.  En- 
dicot  also  found  him  an  opponent  that  v/as  not  to 
be  moved  when  /le  dissented  from  the  general  opin- 
ion of  the  magistrates,  or  wished  to  introduce  some 
novel  things  in  their  proceedings.  Mr.  Dudley  was 
not  a  man  of  learning  equal  to  Winthrop  or  Belling- 
ham,  but  in  this  respect  was  not  inferior  to  Endicot. 
l^either  Endicot  nor  Dudley  possessed  what,  in  the 
present  age,  would  be  called  liberality  of  sentiment, 
or  urbanity  of  manners.  Mr.  D  was  such  an  ene- 
my to  toleration  that  he  not  only  spoke  against  it,  but 
left  a  number  of  lines  which  the  friends  of  rational 
religion  must  wish  he  had  never  written,  as  they  are 
not  to  the  credit  of  his  poetry  or  his  charity,  but 
being  written,  and  handed  down,  are  quoted  to  give 
a  just  view  of  the  character  of  the  man  : 

Let  men  of  God,  in  courts  and  churches  wateh 
O'er  such  as  do  a  toleration  hatch  ; 


DUD  1S7 

Lest  that  ill  e^^  bring  forth  a  cockatrice 
To  poison  all  with  heresy  and  vice. 
If  men  be  left,  and  otherwise  combine, 
My  epitaph's,  I  die  no  libertine. 

Dudley  Joseph,  son  of  T.  Dudley  the  veteran 
magistrate  of  Massachusetts,  was  educated  at  Har- 
vard College,  and  received  the  honours  of  that  se- 
minary, A.  D.  1665.* 

He  was  early  made  a  magistrate,  and  supposed  to 
be  on  the  side  of  loyalists,  who  were  willing  to  give 
up  some  charter  privileges.  It  is  evident  that  he 
loved  the  principles  and  practices  of  the  New  Eng- 
land planters,  though  to  keep  his  place  he  often  sac- 
rificed those,  and  was  subservient  to  men  in  power. 
Kandolph  in  one  letter  speaks  of  him  as  a  man 
*'  opposed  to  the  faction."  At  other  times,  he  calls 
him  a  ''  man  of  a  base,  servile,  and  antimonarchical 
principle."  In  1686  several  gentlemen  of  the  coun- 
cil were  appointed  to  take  the  administration  of  the 
government  of  Massachusetts;  Mr.Dudley  received 
a  commission  as  president.  The  year  before,  he  had 
been  left  out  of  the  magistracy,  having  rendered  him- 
self unpopular  by  some  acts  which  were  thought 
pleasing  to  the  enemies  of  New  England.  His 
short  administration  was  not  grievous  to  the  people. 
They  had  expected  Kirk  to  be  appointed  gover- 
nour,  and  were  disposed,  from  dread  of  his  coming, 
to  receive  any  other  man  with  apparent  cordiality. 
Mr.  Dudley,  says  Hutchinson,  considered  himself 
as  appointed  to  preserve  the  affairs  of  the  colony 
from  confusion  until  the  go vernour  arrived,  and  a  rule 
of  administration  should  be  more  fully  established. 

Wiien  sir  Edmund  Andross  was  appointed  gover- 
nour  of  the  several  colonies,  Dudley  w^as  president 
of  the  council,  also  chief  justice  of  the  province. 
He  was  upon  the  circuit  at  Narraganset  when  An- 
dross w^as  made  prisoner,  and  was  seized  at  Provi- 

*  He  is  second  in  the  class,  Benjamin  Eliot,  son  of  the  apostle 
Eliot,  being  first.  As  they  placed  the  students  according  to  their 
•parentage,  why  was  not  the  son  of  a  governour  the  first  ? 


158  DUD 

dence  as  one  of  the  governour's  party.  For  some 
time  he  Was  confined  to  his  house  at  Roxbury.  He 
"^vas  more  obnoxious  than  any  other  person,  and  was 
treated  even  with  inhumanity  during  his  imprison- 
ment, reviled  by  the  very  soldiers  that  guarded  him, 
and  deprived  of  the  very  necessaries  of  life.  He 
had  been  so  conversant  with  Andross  and  Randolph, 
that  he  was  ranked  with  them  as  an  enemy  to  the 
country,  and  the  resentment  was  raised  the  higher 
because  he  was  born  in  New  England ;  that  which 
they  could  bear  from  a  stranger,  they  thought  in- 
suiferable  from  an  inhabitant  of  the  country.  By 
the  order  of  king  William,  he  embarked  for  Eng- 
land in  February,  1689.  He  was  the  next  year  ap- 
pointed  chief  justice  of  New  York  ;  but  his  proper- 
ty, his  friends,  and  his  heart  were  in  Massachusetts. 
It  was  said,  he  made  use  of  all  his  influence  to  in- 
jure gov.  Phips,  expecting  to  succeed  him  in  the 
government  if  he  could  be  provoked  to  leave  lU 
For  this  purpose  he  went  to  England,  paid  court  to 
his  majesty's  ministers,  and  was  patronized  by  no- 
blemen of  name  and  character.  The  agents  oppos- 
ed the  appointment,  and  obtained  their  wish,  which 
was  to  have  lord  Bellamont  sent  over.  Dudley  was 
not  popular  enough  at  New  York  to  have  any  de- 
sire to  go  there,  nor  were  the  emoluments  of  a  place 
on  the  bench  very"  alluring.  He  preferred  to  be 
lieut.  governour  of  the  isle  oF  White,  lord  Cutts  be- 
ing the  governour,  a  nobleman  who  had  inter- 
ested himself  very  much  in  his  favour.  When  lord 
Bellamont  died,  in  1701,  he  again  solicited  for  the 
goveniment  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  then  mem- 
ber of  parliament,  and  licut.  governour  of  the  isle  of 
White,  a  more  splendid,  as  well  as  more  easy  con- 
dition, than  any  office  in  New  England  ;  but  he  had 
such  **  a  passion  for  his  native  country,  as  would 
have  done  honour  to  the  ancient  Athenians" — sir 
Henry  Ashurst  opposed  the  appointment.  The  dis- 
senters in  England,  and  even  Cotton  Mather,  in 
New  England,  joined  in  promoting  his  interest  and 


DUD  15f 

reputation.  He  came  over  in  1702,  and  was  received 
with  tokens  of  respect  by  men  who  had  always  been 
his  political  opponents,  and  some  ot  them  his  per- 
sonal enemies.  He,  however,  maintained  the  side 
of  the  prerogative  ;  he  had,  therefore,  in  opposition 
to  him  most  of  the  friends  of  the  old  charter,  and 
some  whose  ideas  did  not  glide  with  the  popu- 
lar stream,  were  filled  with  zeal  against  his  ad- 
administration.  The  first  seven  years  were  spent  in 
debates  with  the  house  of  representatives,  or  in  pri- 
vate disputes  with  men  who  ceased  not  to  accuse 
him  of  artifice  and  deception  ;  of  arbitrary  conduct ; 
of  enmity  even  tp  those  privileges  which  they  had 
obtained  by  the  new  charter.  Dr.  Increase  and 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  wrote  him  severe  letters  of  re- 
proof, which  he  answered,  copies  of  which  are  pre- 
served.^ He  had  many  friends,  however,  who 
considered  him  as  a  great  friend  to  the  churches  of 
New  England^  as  well  as  an  excellent  governour^ 
among  them  were  president  Leverett,  Mr.  Brattle, 
and  Dr.  Colman,  who  were  fellows  of  the  college, 
to  which  seminary  gov.  Dudley  ever  manifested  a 
very  warm  attachment. 

The  last  years  of  his  administration  were  more 
tranquil,  and  when  his  interest  and  ambition  were 
not  thwarted  by  the  opposite  party,  his  polite  and 
engaging  deportment,  his  love  for  his  country,  his 
eminent  abilities,  and  very  extensive  information, 
made  him  a  prominent  character  among  the  very  first 
men  of  that  generation.  He  was  succeeded  by  gov, 
Shute,  1716,  and  died,  1720,  aged  73. 

Dudley  Paul,  F.  R.  S.  chief  justice  of  Massa- 
chusetts,  was  the  son  of  gov.  Joseph  Dudley.  He 
%vas  born  at  Roxbury,  1673,  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  1690  ;  and  having  read  law  some  years  in 
this  country  was  sent  to  England  to  finish  his  stu- 
dies at  the  Temple.  In  1702,  he  came  over  to 
Massachusetts  with  a  commission  from  the  queen, 
as  attorney  general,  which  ofiice  he  held  till  he  waf? 

•  Vide  Historical  Collection,  vol.  Wu 


160  DUD 

appointed  judge  of  the  superiour  court.  When  his 
was  a  young  man  he  was  zealous  on  the  side  of  pre- 
rogative, and  acted  with  those  who  endeavoured  to 
abridge  the  privileges  of  the  colony.  Hence  he  was 
very  unpopular  on  this  side  the  water,  and  provok- 
ed the  resentment  of  many  who  had  looked  with 
candour  on  his  father's  proceedings,  as  well  as  those 
who  had  always  been  in  opposition  to  his  measures. 
Some  very  severe  charges  are  made  against  him  by 
Dr.  Increase  Mather,whose  friendship  to  the  gover- 
nour  had  been  once  of  service  to  him.  Mr. 
Dudley,  however,  grew  in  the  esteem  of  the  people. 
He  conducted  so  well  in  the  line  of  his  profession, 
and  in  every  station,  that  whatever  might  have  been 
his  sentiments  when  he  was  in  England,  he  was  re- 
garded as  one  who  loved  his  country,  and  was  ac- 
tive in  serving  its  interest  and  prosperity.  He  was 
chosen  representative  to  the  general  courl  for  his 
native  town,  and  was  promoted  to  a  seat  at  the  coun- 
cil board.  He  appeared  to  great  advantage  in  each 
situation,  but  it  was  on  the  bench  he  shone  with  the 
greatest  lustre.  *'  Here  he  displayed  his  admirable 
talents,  his  quick  apprehension,  his  uncommon 
strength  of  memory,  and  extensive  knowledge  ;  and 
at  the  same  time  his  great  abhorrence  of  vice,  to- 
gether with  that  impartial  justice  which  neither  re^ 
spected  the  rich,  nor  countenanced  the  poor  man  in 
his  cause.  Thus  while  with  pure  hands  and  an  up- 
right heart  he  administered  justice  in  his  circuit 
through  the  province,  he  gained  the  general  esteem 
and  veneration  of  the  people.  As  his  presence  al- 
ways commanded  respect,  so  it  might  justly  be  said 
of  him,  that  he  scattered  iniquity  with  his  eyes, 
which  struck  with  awe  the  most  daring  oifenders. 
"When  he  spoke,  it  was  with  such  authority  and  pe- 
culiar energy  of  expression,  as  never  failed  to  com- 
maiul  attention,  and  deeply  impress  the  minds  of 
all  who  heard  him  ;  and  his  sentiments  of  law  and 
evidence  in  all  cases  before  the  court,  had  general- 
ly  a  determining   weight   with  those    who   wer^ 


DUD  161 

charged  with  the  trial  of  them.' ^*  He  was  first  ad^ 
vaiiccd  to  the  bupreme  bench  m  1718,  and  when 
judge  Lyndes  died  he  was  appointed  chief  justice. 
Judge  Dudley  was  one  of  the  few  Americans  who 
have  been  honoured  by  an  election  to  the  royal  sop 
ciety  of  London.  He  wrote  several  ingenious  pie- 
ces relative  to  the  natural  history  of  New  England, 
which  were  published  in  *^  their  philosophical  trans- 
actions, 1720,1721."  He  was  also  a  very  learn- 
ed  theologian,  and  wrote  a  book  upon  *'  the  mer- 
chandize of  souls,"  being  an  exposition  of  certain 
passages  in  the  book  of  Revelations.  In  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  he  became  a  puritan  of  the  straitest 
sect  of  the  fathers  of  Massachusetts.  By  his  vjill 
he  established  a  lecture  at  Harvard  College,  and 
specified  four  subjects  :  First,  "  upon  natural  reli- 
gion ;"  second,  "  upon  revealed  religion  ;*'  third, 
^^  upon  the  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Rome;" 
fourth,  **  upon  the  validity  of  Presbyterian  ordina- 
tion "     He  died  the  last  week  in  January,   1751. 

Dudley  William,  Esq  was  the  youngest  son 
of  gov.  Joseph  Dndiey,  and  educated  at  Harvard 
College.  Having  received  the  honours  of  that  se- 
minary in  1704,  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of 
law,  but  did  not  incline  to  enter  upoti  the  business 
of  his  profession.  In  a  retired  spot  of  the  town  of 
Roxbury  he  built  an  elegant  house,  and  cultivated 
his  farm,  He  sO(jn  became  a  candidate,  however, 
for  publick  honours.  His  father  sent  him  to  Cana- 
da to  negotiate  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  Among 
those  whom  he  brought  away  was  the  venerable  Mr. 
Williams  of  Deerfiefd,  who  had  been  captured  with 
his  family,  some  of  whom  never  returned.  It  was 
said,  young  Dudley  managed  the  business  with  no 
small  address,  and  by  his  manner  of  negotiating 
kept  the  frontiers  from  being  pillaged.  This  was 
doubtless  the  policy  of  his  father,  but  he  gained 
credit  by  the  execution.     Charlevoix  speaks  of  the 

*  Character  by  judge  Sewal,  who  succeeded  him  as  chief  jus- 
tice. 

X 


162  DUD 

whole  negotiation  as  a  piece  of  political  intrigue. 
He  says  the  Massachusetts  government  had  no 
no  design  of  coming  to  a  treaty.  Mr.  Dudley  was 
afterwards  appointed  justice  of  the  common  pleas 
and  col.  of  the  first  regiment  in  Suffolk.  He  was 
also  a  representative  for  Roxbury  in  the  general 
court.  He  always  had  great  influence  in  a  publick 
assembly,  being  an  admirable  speaker,  and  possess- 
ing strong  intellectual  powers  as  well  as  a  brilliant 
fancy.  The  opposition  to  his  father's  administra- 
tion felt  the  weight  of  his  talents.  He  could  ren- 
der himself  very  popular,  and  was  for  several  years 
speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives.  In  1729 
he  was  chosen  one  of  his  majesty's  council,  and  was 
very  serviceable  to  the  community.  Douglass  says 
that  he  was  more  acquainted  with  provincial  affairs 
than  any  other  man,  especially  that  he  understood 
landed  property  better. 

Col,  Dudley  distinguished  himself  as  a  military 
character.  He  was  an  active  officer  in  the  expedi- 
tion which  was  so  successful  against  Port  Royal, 
and  deserved  the  promotion  which  he  received  in 
succeeding  years.  But  he  was  called  off  the  stage 
in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  and  with  all  his  hon- 
ours thick  upon  him.  He  died,  August  10,  1743, 
before  his  elder  brother.  His  children  possessed 
the  fine  estate  which  had  always  belonged  to  the 
family.  Judge  Dudley  leaving  no  children,  it  came 
into  possession  of  col.  William's  eldest  son,  being 
thus  entailed  to  the  first  male  heir.  He  had  two 
sons,  Thomas  and  William  ;  their  mother  was  the 
amiable  daughter  of  /ddington  Davenport,  judge  of 
the  superiour  court,  and  one  of  his  majesty's  coun- 
cil. Thomas  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  1750, 
and  William  the  year  succeeding.  The  younger, 
having  no  prospect  of  wealth,  was  educcited  for  the 
bar.  He  brought  the  property  into  some  dispute, 
and  procured  a  ceitain  part  of  the  inheritance. 

These  brothers  acted  differeiitly  from  what  might 
be  expected  from  their  education,  and  the  exam- 


D  U  M  163 

pies  they  had  to  stimulate  them.  They  were  very 
uiiiike  tlicu'  anct'jtors.  Instead  of  preservmg  the 
honour  and  dignity  of  a  family  which  had  been  iU 
lustrioub  lor  more  than  a  hundred  years,  they  seem- 
ed to  prefer  the  manners  of  ordinary  life,  and  very 
soon  were  minified  with  the  people  who  make  up 
the  commO'i  mass  of  human  society.  Hutchinson* 
Pri'oate  information. 

DuMMER  KicHARD.  oue  of  the  fathers  of  Massa- 
chusetts,  came   into   ihe  country,    1635,   and  was 
chosen   a  'magistrate.       He   warmly   espoused  the 
cause  of  sir  tieiu^y  Vane,  and  when  that  gentleman 
was  left  out  of  the  government  he  was  no  longer 
chosen  assistant.      He  left  the  town  of  Boston,  and 
retired  to  his  own  estate  in  Newbury,  where  he  liv- 
ed many  years  highly  respected.    No  man  deserved 
more  the  praise  of  doing  well.      He  was  very  rich, 
and  equally  benevolent.    When  gov.  Winthrop  lost 
such  immense  propert}'  by  the  fraudulei\t  conduct 
of  ins  bailiff,  Mr.  j->ummer  gave  100  pounds  towards 
making  up  his  loss.     He  contributed  greatly  to  the 
improvement  and  growth  of  that  part  of  Newbury 
wnere  he  Owelt.      The  lands  upon  which  the  acade. 
my  is  buiit,  and  were  left  for  the  support  of  this  lite- 
rary institution,   were  formerly  his  plantation.     He 
left  enuaien.  some   of  whom  passed  their  lives  on 
the  esiate  he  possessed.     One  son  came  to  Boston, 
was  a  worthy  magistrate  of  the  county  of  Suffolk, 
and  the  father  of  the  famous  Jeremy  Dummer,  the 
province  agent  at  the  court  of  Great  Britain.  Hutch, 
Dummer  Jer;  my,  was  born  in  Boston,  and  in 
1699  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  and  de- 
signed for  the  ministry.     The  president  of  the  col- 
lege, when  he  was  student,   was  the  celebrated  Dr. 
I.  iViather,   who  declares  in  a  preface  to  a  publica- 
tion of  Mr.  Dummer's,  that  when  he  left  college, 
he  was  by  far  the  best  scholar  that  had  been  there  ; 
which  his  succeeding  reputation  evinced  to  be  a  just 
encomium. 

His  reputation  was  as  high  at   the  university  of 


164  D  U  M 

Leyden,  as  it  was  at  Harvard  College.  Witshis  was 
professor  of  theology  when  Mr  D,  was  a  student 
there.  This  professor  spake  of  the  accomplish- 
ments  of  Mr.  Dummer,  and  gave  his  opinion  that 
he  would  be  useful  to  the  churches,  as  he  was  so 
eminent  for  his  knowledge  in  divinity  as  well  as  phi- 
losophy. The  university  presented  him  with  a  de- 
gree of  doctor  philosophiae,  which  answers  to  A. 
M.  in  other  seminaries. 

It  appears  evident  that  he  had  a  preference  for 
Europe,  and  perhaps  intended  to  settle  as  a  minis- 
ter in  some  part  of  Kngland.  Whether  he  was  so 
popular  as  a  preacher,  as  he  was  excellent  for  his 
scholarship,  is  doubtful.  Dr.  M.  says  he  did  not 
meet  with  encouragement  to  settle  in  this  country, 
and  laments  that,  for  want  of  it,  he  was  constrained 
to  go  away. 

While  he  was  in  England  he  turned  his  mind  to 
jurisprudence  and  politicks^  and  wrote,  in  defence  of 
the  New  England  charters,  an  admirable  pamphlet, 
^vhen  their  privileges  were  threatened.  He  was  in- 
defatigable in  serving  the  interests  of  the  colonies, 
being  well  qualified  by  his  knowledge,  prudence 
and  zeal,  as  well  as  by  his  influence  which  was  con- 
siderable, and  which  he  acquired  by  an  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  many  of  the  best  characters,  and 
some  of  the  most  brilliant  luminaries  of  the  English 
nation.  He  was  chosen  agent  for  the  province, 
1710,  when  sir  William  Ashurst  declined  to  serve. 
Contrary  to  the  expectation  of  his  countrymen  and 
constituents,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  persons  in 
power,  w^as  employed  by  lord  Bolingbrokc  in  cer- 
tain secret  negotiations,  and  had  assurances  of  pro- 
motion to  a  place  of  honour  and  profit ;  but  the 
death  of  the  queen  blasted  all  his  hopes.  His  ac- 
quaintance v/ith  that  profl'gate  nobleman  not  only 
banished  all  hib  religious  sentiments,  but  lessened 
the  effect  of  his  moral  principles.  He  was  guilty  of 
much  artifice  and  deception  in  hispublick  concerns, 
and  run  to  excess  of  licentious  manners*     His  pri- 


D  U  M  165 

Vate  diary,  kept  in  his  youth,  shows  that  he  was 
influenced  by  pious  sentiments  in  every  action ; 
he  is  the  humble  suppliant  at  the  divine  mercy 
seat,  and  cver\  thing  wicked  touches  with  horror  the 
devout  seubibility  of  his  heart  ! — It  was  not  without 
pain,  that  he  overcome  the  impressions  of  his  edu- 
cation ;  he  often  struggled  against  their  influence. 
He  could  only  bring  his  views  to  a  state  of  forlorn 
scepticism,  and  was  never  able  to  fix  his  mind  in  in- 
fidelity. Amidst  scenes  of  dii>sipation,  he  had  some 
reflections  vi^hich  prevented  him  from  enjoying  what 
commonly  groes  delight  to  the  sons  of  men ^  and  con- 
fcbsed  to  a  friend  that  he  wished  to  feel  what  he 
once  experienced,  when  he  was  a  pious  man  in  New 
England,  without  any  great  expectations, and  had  no 
other  desire  than  to  settle  in  the  ministry  of  the  gos- 
pel. His  sentiments  on  political  subjects  were  al- 
ways very  correct,  and  he  was  through  all  the  chang- 
es of  life  a  steady  consistent  friend  of  his  country. 
But  he  had  not  always  the  happiness  to  please  his 
constituents,  though  he  speaks  of  having  mens 
conscia  recti  for  his  support. 

In  1721   he  was  dismissed  from  the  agency,  the 
very  year  in  which  he  ^oorote  in  defence  of  the  chart- 
er,    it  was  sufficient  to  ruin  his  popularity  that  he 
was  friendly  to  the  governour.        In  one  of  his  let 
ters,  he  thus  speaks  : 

'^  1  expect  no  thanks  from  the  assembly  for  this 
service,  as  I  had  none  for  the  counterfeit  bills  sent 
over  last  spring,  though  I  thought  it  an  important 
service.  It  is  a  hard  fate,  when  I  am  doing  the 
province  and  the  gentlemen  in  it  all  the  honour  and 
justice  in  my  power,  that  some  persons  in  the  low- 
er house  should  take  equal  pains  to  lessen  and  ex 
pose  me.  I  wish  they  may  not  prejudice  your  minds 
in  the  end  by  it  No  matter  what  becomes  of  me." 
He  was  afterwards  employed  occasionally  in  the  bu- 
siness of  the  province.  He  was  disgusted  that  they 
put  no  more  confidence  in  him,  for  even  while  they 
held  his  abilities    eminent,   the  general  court  of 


166  D  U  M 

Massachusetts  appointed  others  to  act  with  hinij 
whose  opinions  were  more  clcmocratick,  and  who 
were  more  faithful  to  their  party  than  to  the  truth. 
This  great  man  died  in  i739,  at  Plastow,  May,  3d 
week.  His  publications  have  gone  through  seve- 
ral editions.     They  are  extremely  well  written. 

In  1704  he  printed  a  sermon  **  upon  the  holiness  of 
the  sabbath.''''  In  a  latin  dissertation  printed  when 
he  was  in  Holland,  certain  expressions  dropped 
which  made  some  think  him  an  .\ntisabbatarian,but 
in  this  sermon  he  brings  proof  for  the  sanctilicatiou 
of  the  day  :  and  it  is  so  well  written,  that  a  new 
edition  of  the  discourse  has  been  given  since  his 
death. 

"  His  letter  to  a  Tioble  lord  concerning  the  Canada 
expedition,  was  printed  in  London  1712."  It  is  an 
able  vindication  of  Massachusetts,  against  the  charg- 
es made  by  the  leaders  of  this  romantick  expedition 
under  gen.  Hill.  They  were  under  a  necessity  of 
recurring  to  some  cause  of  blame,  or  take  it  upon 
themselves.  Mr.  D.  makes  it  evident  Massachu- 
setts were  great  losers,  having  sunk  an  immense 
sum,  and  performed  their  part,  or  more  than  was  re- 
quired. 

These,  with  extracts  from  his  letters,  and  •*  vin* 
dication  of  the  New  England  charters,"  are  all  the 
publications  known  to  be  his. 

He  was  skilled  in  most  languages  ancient  and 
modern,  was  a  graceful  speaker,  and  polite  man* 
He  had  a  fuie  memory,  a  communicative  disposi- 
tion, and  was  very  beneficent,  his  company  was 
sought  after  eagerly  by  all  lovers  of  good  sense  and 
humanity.  He  retired  from  business  a  few  years 
before  he  died,  and  enjoyed  himself  with  his  books 
and  friends.  Dtiily  Advertisers  Lon.  1719.  Hutch- 
inson and  priDiife  771SS. 

DuMMER  William,  lieutenant  governour  of 
Massachusetts,  was  born  in  this  province,  but  went 
over  to  England,  and  va  as  at  Plymouth  holding  an 
oflice  there,  as  one  of  the  commissioners,  when  he 


D  U  M  167 

was  appointed,  through  the  interest  of  sir  William 
Ashurst,  to  be  lieut.  governour,  in  1716.  He  was 
a  friend  of  the  Dudley  family,  and  firmly  supported 
the  administration  of  gov.  Shute.  Hence  he  was  not 
the  favourite  of  the  popular  party  ;  nor  of  those 
who  promoted  private  banks,  but  was  highly  res- 
pected by  all  parties,  when  their  prejudices  did  not 
operate.  He  maintained  a  most  respectable  charac- 
ter for  virtue  and  talents,  especially  during  his  ad- 
ministration as  the  chief  magistrate.  Douglass  al- 
ways styles  it,  "  the  wise  administration  of  Mr. 
Dummer."  He  was  a  man  of  such  correct  judg- 
ment and  steady  habits,  such  a  firm  and  temperate 
conduct,  when  he  supposed  himself  right,  that  the 
vessel  of  state  was  secure  though  exposed  to  the 
dangers  of  a  tempestuous  sea.  For  the  opposition 
continued  as  the  adherents  of  Mr.  Shute,  and  the 
minds  of  people  were  agitated  by  the  subjects  of 
dispute,  continually  brought  forward  in  the  house 
of  representatives. 

There  was  only  one  part  of  his  conduct  which 
gave  offence  to  the  British  administration  ;  but  this 
was  a  matter  no  way  worthy  of  reproof,  and  it  tend- 
ed to  give  him  popularity  in  this  country.  Had  he 
not  assented  to  it,  he  certainly  would  have  lost  the 
favour  of  a  very  pious  and  respectable  part  of  the 
community.  In  the  year  1726,  the  convention  of 
the  clergy  passed  a  vote  to  hold  a  synod.  As  this 
is  a  subject  purely  ecclesiastical,  the  licut.  govern- 
our fell  in  with  it ;  or  granted  his  consent.  But 
the  jealousy  of  the  episcopal  party  was  excited,  and 
such  representations  made  to  the  bishop  of  London, 
that  an  instruction  came  from  the  ministry  to  stop 
all  proceedings  Douglass  has  preserved  the  copy 
of  the  reprimand  sent  to  the  chief  magistrate  for  not 
sending  the  '*  account  of  such  a  remarkable  trans- 
action." Lieut,  gov.  Dummer  was  in  the  chair, 
from  Nov.  1722,  to  July  19,  1728.  I  pon  gov. 
Burnet's  death,  Sept.  7,  1729,  he  was  again  in  the 
ehair,  till  the  arrival  of  gov.  Belcher,  April  8,  1730, 


168  DUN 

Mr.  Tailer  who  had  been  in  the  office,  before  Mr. 
Dummer,  but  was  afterwards  collector,  was  then 
appointed  lieut.  governour.  And  Mr.  Dummer 
retired  to  a  more  private  station.  He  lived  to  old 
age  enjoying  otiiim  cum  dignitate.  It  is  true  that 
for  some  years  he  held  his  seat  at  the  council  board, 
and  took  his  rank  as  the  first ;  but  upon  some  pop- 
ular questioii,  where  he  acted  with  his  usual  inde- 
pendent spirit,  he  gave  olFence,  and  he  was  left  out 
of  the  number  at  the  succeeding  election.  His 
house  was  in  Nassau  street,  afterwards  owned  by 
Mr.  Powell.  He  was  one  who  contributed  to  build 
the  church  in  Hollis- street.  For  many  years  that 
part  of  the  town,  now  so  populous, was  very  sparing- 
ly settled.  When  Mr.  D.  died,  the  funeral  sermon 
was  preached  by  Dr.  Bylcs  the  minister  of  this 
church  from  its  foundation  to  the  revolution* 
Hutchinson,     Douglass. 

DuNSTER  Henry,  president  of  Harvard  College, 
came  over  in  1640  to  Massachusetts  ;  he  was  a  man 
of  an  excellent  spirit,  as  well  as  famous  for  his  liter- 
ary acquirements.  He  is  recorded  as  the  first  pres- 
ident of  the  college,  though  Dr.  Eaton  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  institution  before  him.  This 
man  was  set  aside, by  order  of  the  general  court,  on 
account  of  his  severity  ;  he,  indeed,  wanted  every 
qualification,  except  learning,  for  the  office.  The 
same  man  afterwards  went  over  to  the  old  country, 
conformed  to  the  church  of  England,  and  was  a 
bitter  enemy  to  Massachusetts,  during  the  reign  of 
Charles  2d  ;  but  his  power  and  influence  were 
small,  compared  with  his  malicious  humour.  Mr. 
Dunster  was  mild  and  amiable  in  his  temper.  His 
faculty  of  governing  the  students,  and  mode  of  in- 
struction, gave  him  a  great  share  in  the  esteem  asid 
affection  of  all  who  were  interested  in  the  reput.  tion 
of  the  college  He  continued  in  the  chair  from  the 
year  1640  to  1654;  and  then  resigned  on  account  of 
a  difference  of  opinion,  between  him  and  the  other 
governours  of  the  college,  upon  the  subjects  of  bap- 


E  AT  169 

tism.  Mr.  Dunster  was  persuaded  in  his  own  mind 
that  infants  ought  not  to  be  baptized,  though  he 
would  not  separate  himself  from  the  churches  who. 
baptized  their  children.  He  thought  liberally,  but 
allowed  others  the  same  freedom  of  opinion  without 
any  interruption  of  church  fellowship.  He  died  at 
Scituate,  A.  D.  1657.  And  left  tokens  of  his  affec- 
tion to  those  friends  who  had  advised  him  to  leave 
Cambridge.  The  ministers  and  magistrates  of  the 
colony  were  very  desirous  of  his  continuing  in  the 
station,  if  he  could  be  persuaded  not  to  propagate 
his  peculiar  opinion,  but  he  was  equally  consciea- 
tious  and  candid,  and  preferred  retirement  to  a  sit- 
uation where  he  might  give  offence. 

The  New  England  psalms  were  revised  by  pre- 
sident Dunster  who  was  a  great  Hebrewician,  and 
had  more  taste  for  poetry,  than  the  divines  who  first 
undertook  to  make  the  version.  It  is  said  that  till 
they  were  corrected  by  him,  they  vvere  not  fitted  to 
be  sung  in  the  churches.  These  psalms  passed 
through  many  editions,  and  till  very  lately  were- 
sung  in  some  of  the  churches.*     Magnalia, 

Eaton  Theophilus,  governour  ot  New  Haven 
colony,  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Eaton, 
minister  of  Stratford  in  Oxfordshire,  who  after- 
wards removed  to  Coventry,  and  there  also  per- 
formed the  duties  of  a  parish  minister.  Mr.  Daven.- 

•  In  "  New  England's  first  fruits**  a  scarce  and  curious  book 
4to.  London,  1643.  It  is  said,  over  the  college  is  master  Dun-* 
5ter  placed  as  president,  a  learned  considerable  and  industrious 
man,  who  has  so  trained  up  his  pupils  in  the  tongues  and  arts, 
and  so  seasoned  them  with  the  principles  of  divinity  and  Chris- 
tianity, that  we  have  to  our  great  comfort  (and  in  truth)  beyond 
our  hopes,  beheld  their  progressive  in  learning  and  godliness  al- 
so. The  former  of  these  has  appeared  in  their  publick  decla- 
mations in  latin  and  greek  disputations  logical  and  philosophical, 
which  they  have  been  wonted  (besides  their  daily  exercises  in  the 
college  hall)  in  the  audience  of  the  magistrates,  ministers  and 
other  scholars  for  the  probation  of  their  youth  in  learning,  upon 
set  days  constantly  once  every  month  to  make  and  uphold  :  the 
latter  hath  been  manifested  in  sundry  of  tnem  by  the  savoury 
breathings  of  their  spirits  in  their  godly  conversation,  &c. 
Y 


170  EAT 

port,  the  father  of  the  famous  preacher  of  that  name, 
was  mayor  of  that  city.  The  families  became  inti- 
mately acquainted.  Young  Mr.  Eaton  pursued 
the  mercantile  line  of  business,  and  his  friend  stud- 
ied divinity.  The  one  was  diligent,  and  grew  rich, 
and  the  other  made  a  shining  figure  in  his  profess- 
ion. Their  friendship,  which  began  in  the  old  coun- 
try,  was  increased  by  the  circumstances  which  led 
them  both  over  to  the  American  vv  ilderness  ;  and 
was  uninterrupted  till  death  parted  them.  Mr.  Ea- 
ton was  among  the  most  opulent  men  who  came  in- 
to this  country.  He  arrived  at  Boston  in  the  year 
1637.  He  had  been  a  patentee  of  Massachusetts 
colony,  but  had  no  idea  of  leaving  England,  until 
Mr.  Davenport  was  compelled  ''  to  seek  a  refuge 
from  the  storm  in  these  cold  and  rude  corners  of 
the  earth." 

This  company  preferred  to  be  a  distinct  colon)^ 
and  purchased  a  large  territory,  where  they  built  a 
town,  and  called  it  New  Haven.  It  has  ever  since 
been  considered  among  the  fairest  places  in  the 
plantations.  Mr.  Eaton  was  chosen  governour  of 
this  new  colony,  and  continued  in  the  office,  being 
annually  chosen,  until  his  death,  A.  D.  1657. 

**  It  was  the  admiration,"  saith  Dr.  Mather,  ''  of 
all  spectators  to  behold  the  discretion,  the  gravity, 
and  equity  with  which  he  managed  all  publick  af- 
fairs. Hc'  carried  in  his  countenance  a  mujesty 
which  cannot  be  described,  and  in  his  dispensations 
of  justice  he  was  a  mirror  for  the  most  imitable  par- 
tiality."  He  also  quotes  a  saying  of  his  whichevinc- 
es  the  correctness  of  his  mind.  **  Some  account  it 
a  great  matter  to  die  weii^  but  I  am  sure  it  is  a  great 
matter  to  live  well.  All  our  care  should  be  while 
we  have  our  life  to  use  it  well,  and  so  when  death 
puts  an  end  to  that,  it  will  put  an  end  to  all  our 
cares. 

Dr.  Trumbull,  author  of  the  history  of  Connecti- 
cut, speaks  highly  of  gov.  Eaton's  character, 
*'  There  was  no  man,  anjong  the  first  planters  of 


EDW  171 

New  England,  who  had  a  more  general  acquaint- 
ance with  publick  business,  or  who  sustained  a 
liiirer  character. '*"  He  says  likewise  that  his  monu- 
ument  is  in  good  preservation  at  this  time,  with  lines 
upon  it,  expressive  of  his  worth  and  usefulness. 

Gov.  Eaton  was  one  who  signed  the  confedera- 
tion of  the  united  colonies  in  1643.  And  his  name 
appears  to  all  their  acts  and  proceedings  till  the  lat- 
ter end  of  the  year  165V.  In  this  assembly  he  had 
an  opportunity  to  exert  himself  for  the  good  of  New 
England,  which  he  failed  not  to  improve.  In  these 
records,  which  make  the  chief  part  of  the  2d  vol.  of 
Hazard's  Collections,  are  precious  documents  for 
historians,  and  very  great  displays  of  wisdom.  The 
first  characters  of  each  colony  were  honoured  with 
this  commission. 

Gov.  Eaton  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  di- 
ed young;  she  left  two  children.  The  second  was 
the  daughter  of  the  bishop  of  Chester.  She  left 
New  England  after  the  death  of  her  husband.  He 
educated  one  son  at  Harvard  College,  who  was  gra- 
duated 1649,  and  died  a  few  years  before  his  excel- 
lent father.      Magnalia.     Trumbull.     Hazard. 

Edwards  Jonathan,  presidenc  of  Princetown 
College,  in  New  Jersey,  was  the  son  of  the  rev, 
Timothy  Edwards,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Wind- 
sor, Connecticut.  He  was  born,  1702;  graduated 
at  Yale  College,  1720  ;  he  was  soon  chosen  tutor, 
for  which  office  he  was  well  qualified  ;  being  then 
distinguished  for  his  abilities  and  learning.  While 
he  resided  at  college,  he  applied  his  mind  closely 
to  the  study  of  divinity  ;  and  very  soon  after  he  be- 
gan to  preach,  he  was  invited  to  settle  at  Northamp- 
ton. Mr.  Stoddard,  who  was  then  minister  of  the 
church,  was  his  grandfather,  and  had  lived  to  old 
age.  It  gave  the  highest  satisfaction  to  that  vene- 
rable  man,  to  have  one  for  his  colleague  and  suc- 
cessor, whose  gifts  and  graces  were  so  extraordina- 
ry ;  and  for  whom  he  must  naturally  care  more  than 
for  any  other  candidate  whom  the  people  might 


172  E  D  W 

call.  Mr.  Edwards  was,  indeed,  as  a  son  with  a 
father,  the  staff  of  his  age,  as  well  as  a  blessing  to 
the  people.  Mr.  Stoddard  died,  1729.  The  church 
had  been  in  peace  and  harmony.  Both  their  minis- 
ters were  highly  esteemed  at  home  and  abroad. 
The  practice  of  baptising  children  of  persons  mak- 
ing a  profession  of  religion,  who  did  not  join  in 
full  communion,  had  not  been  called  in  question. 
Unhappily  for  the  town  of  Northampton,  a  differ- 
ence  of  opinion  arose  upon  this  subject ;  Mr.  Ed- 
i;"  wards  was  fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind,  that 
i|fPr  none  but  the  children  of  communicants  have  a  right 
to  baptism ;  and  it  was  his  desire  to  bring  the  church 
over  to  the  same  way  of  thinking.  He  had  thought 
much  upon  the  subject,  and  in  1748  he  published  a 
quarto  pamphlet,  entitled,  '*  an  humble  inquiry  in- 
to the  rules  of  the  word  of  God  concerning  the 
qualifications  for  a  full  communion  in  the  visible 
christian  church."  The  rev.  Solomon  Williams 
wrote  an  answer  to  this  ;  to  which  Mr.  Edwards  re- 
plied. The  dispute  occasioned  many  divisions  in 
churches,  and  the  contention  was  so  great  in  the 
church  at  Northampton  that  it  issued  in  a  separa- 
tion. A  council  was  called,  which  advised  to  a  dis- 
mission. He  resigned  the  pastoral  office  in  1750, 
and  had  an  "  honourable  quietus."  He  was  then 
invited  to  settle  in  the  church  at  Stockbridge.  The 
minister  of  that  town  was  supported  from  the  funds 
of  the  London  society.  Mr.  Sargeant  had  been 
their  missionary  to  the  Indians  ;  they  elected  Mr. 
Edwards  to  succeed  him,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  joined  heartily  in  the  invitation.  In  this  re- 
tired situation  he  made  himself  useful  to  the  people 
both  Indians  and  English,  who  sat  under  his  minis- 
try ;  and  he  had  a  fine  opportunity  to  indulge  his 
mind  in  those  profound  speculations,  which  had 
given  him  a  distinction  among  the  greatest  men  of 
the  age. 

When  president  Burr  died,   he  was  chosen  to 
^cceed  him.    He  had  good  reasons  for  not  accept.. 


EDW  175 

ing  the  place,  but  a  sense  of  duty  prevailed  over 
every  other  consideration,  and  he  removed  to  Prince- 
town  in  New  Jersey.      In  this  station,   which  he 
adorned  by  his  reputation,  and  where  he  might  have 
been  very  useful  if  it  had  pleased  Heaven  to  spare 
his  life,  he  continued  but  a  short  time.      He  died 
of  the  small  pox,   Feb.  23,   1758.     His  death  was 
universally  lamented.     Though  many  differed  from 
him  in  theological  opinions,  yet  all  respected  his 
piety  and  learning.     As  a  preacher  he  was  pathet- 
ick,  serious,   experimental  ;    he  had  a  small  voice, 
and  therefore  was  not  popular  among  that  class  of 
people  who  think  that  to  be   zealous,  and  to  cry 
aloud,  is  the  same  thing.     But  his  performances  in 
the  pulpit  were  peculiarly  acceptable  to  persons  of 
serious  views.      They  were   plain,    practical    and 
adapted  to  the  various  capacities  of  his  hearers ; 
which  is  very  remarkable,   considering  how  much 
he  wrote  and  thought  upon  doctrinal  subjects.    He 
was  certainly  a  great  controversial  writer  ;    most  of 
his  writings  discover  this  turn  of  mind,  and  he  has 
written  very  largely  and  ably  upon  many  theologi- 
cal subjects.     His  book  upon  the  "  freedom  of  the 
will"  is  the  most  celebrated  ;  this  gives  him  a  name 
among  the  greatest  metaphysicians.    ''  Several  pro- 
fessors of  divinity  in  the  Dutch  universities  sent 
him  their  thanks  for  the  assistance  he  had  given 
them  in  their  inquiry  into  some  doctrinal  points, 
having  carried  his  own  further  than  any  author  they 
had  ever  seen."    This  book  is  written  in  opposition 
**to  Arminian  principles  ;"  and  the '*  Pelagian  her- 
esy;"   Dr.  Priestly,  however,  speaks  highly  of  it, 
and  says  he  should  suppose  an  Arminian  wrote  it. 
The  doctor  is  well  known  to  be  a  high  Supralapsa- 
rian,  or  Necessarian,  which  he  will  not  allow  to  be 
a  sentiment  exclusively  confined  to  Calvinistick  di- 
vines.     President  Edwards'  book   is  not  so  clear 
upon  the  subject  as  some  others  upon  that  side  the 
question.      The  style  is  somewhat  intricate,  but  it 
is  a  book  of  deep  research  ;  it  discovers  great  appli^ 


174  ELI 

cation  of  mind,  with  uncommon  strenc^th  of  intel- 
lectual powers.  This  has  been  said  of  it,  that  it  not 
only  proves  him  a  man  of  great  genius,  but  *'  the 
superiour  force  of  argument  has  baffled  all  opposi- 
tion." His  *' treatise  upon  the  affections"  is  ano- 
ther work  of  great  celebrity,  and  has  been  read  more 
than  his  "essay  on  the  freedom  of  the  will."  He 
published  many  works,  and  left  many  in  mss.  Since 
his  death  have  been  printed,  '*  his  defence  of  the 
doctrine  of  original  sin  ;"  a  volume  upon  the  ''  na- 
ture of  virtue  ;"  the  '*  history  of  redemption,"  8cc. 
All  his  works  have  been  collected  lately,  in  eight 
volumes,  of  which  there  is  a  very  good  American 
edition,  with  "  memoirs  of  his  life." 

President  Edwards  left  ten  children.  Of  his  pos^ 
terity  there  are  now  several  who  are  very  con- 
spicuous among  the  literary  and  famous  men  of 
New  England. 

Edwards  Jonathan,  D.  D.  president  of  Sche- 
nectady College,  was  the  son  of  the  rev.  president 
Edwards  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  educated  at  Jer- 
sey College,  and  graduated  in  1765.  He  was  settled 
at  New  Haven,  and  continued  a  number  of  vears  in 
the  ministry ;  but  left  the  place  some  years  before  he 
was  chosen  president  of  Union  College,  in  which  of- 
fice he  died.  He  was  an  author  of  very  considera- 
ble reputation.  His  most  celebrated  publications 
were,  an  answer  to  Dr.  Chauncy's  book  entitled, 
'*  salvation  for  all  men,"  which  proved  him  to  be  a 
critick  and  a  scholar  ;  and  a  reply  to  the  "  essays 
upon  liberty  and  necessity,"  written  by  Dr.  Samuel 
West,  of  New  Bedford,  which  shows  much  logi- 
cal acuteness,  and  is  more  luminous  than  what  his 
father  v/rote  upon  the  subject. 

Eliot  John,  commonly  called  the  apostle  to  the 
Indians,  exhibited  more  lively  traits  of  an  extraordi- 
nary character  than  we  find  in  most  ages  of  the 
church,  or  in  most  christian  countries.  He,  who 
could  prefer  the  American  wilderness  to  the  pleas- 
ant fields  of  Europe,  was  ready  to  wander  through 


E  L  I  175 

this  wilderness  for  the  sake  of  doing  good.  To  be 
active  was  the  delight  of  his  soul ;  and  he  went  to  tlie 
hovels  which  could  not  keep  out  the  wind  and  rain, 
where  he  laboured  incessantly  among  the  aboriginals 
of  America,  though  his  popular  talents  gave  him  adis- 
tinction  among  the  first  divines  of  Massachusetts, 
at  a  time  that  the  magistrates  and  all  the  people 
held  the  clergy  in  peculiar  honour. 

We  know  but  little  of  his  connections  before  he 
left  his  native  country.  He  was  born  in  England, 
A.  D.  1604.  There  is  nothing  related  of  his  par- 
ents, except  that  they  gave  him  a  liberal  education, 
and  were  exemplary  for  their  piety  ; — for  this  theijr 
memory  is  precious. 

-'•  I  do  see,"  says  this  excellent  man,  *'that  it  was 
a  great  favour  of  God  to  me  that  my  first  years 
were  seasoned  v/ith  the  fear  of  God,  the  word  and 
prayer."  Is  there  not  sufficient  encouragement  to 
educate  ingenuous  youth,  and  impress  the  tender 
heart  with  lessons  of  wisdom,  to  think  they  will 
shed  tears  of  grate  ful  sensibility  on  our  sepulchres  ? 

When  Mr.  Eliot  left  the  university  of  Cambridge, 
he  himself  became  a  teacher ;  and  while  he  led 
children  and  youth  into  the  paths  of  virtue,  acquir- 
ed also  an  acquaintance  with  the  human  heart.  At 
this  time  he  had  an  opportunity  of  hearing  the  ven- 
erable Hooker,  and  never  lost  the  serious  impres- 
sions which  he  received  under  his  preaching  ;  to 
him  he  was  always  attached,  as  well  as  to  his  mode 
ol  administering  the  order  of  the  churches. 

In  the  year  1631,  Mr.  Lliot  arrived  at  Boston  ; 
and  the  succeeding  year,  Nov.  5,  1632,  was  settled 
as  teacher  of  the  church  in  Roxbury.  Gov.  Win- 
throp  says,  -'  Mr.  John  Eliot,  a  member  of  Boston 
congregation,  whom  the  company  intended  present- 
ly to  call  to  the  office  of  teacher,  was  called  to  be  a 
teacher  to  the  company  at  Roxbury  ;  and  though 
Boston  laboured  all  they  could,  both  with  the  con- 
gregation at  Roxbury  and  with  Mr.  Eliot  himself, 
aliedging  their  want  of  him,  and  the  covenant  be- 


176  ELI 

tvveen  them,  yet  he  could  not  be  diverted  from  ac- 
cepting the  call  at  Roxbury  ;  so  he  was  dismissed." 

When  Mr.  Eliot  came  to  Boston,  the  preceding 
year,  there  was  no  minister  at  the  first  church.  Mr. 
Wilson  had  gone  to  England,  and  the  religious  ser- 
vice was  carried  on  by  gov.  Winthrop.  Mr.  Dud- 
ley and  Mr.  Novvel,  the  ruling  elder.  Mr.  Hubbard 
says  these  men  accepted  the  charge,  "  knowing 
well  that  the  princes  of  Judah,  in  king  Hezekiah's 
reign,  were  appointed  to  teach  the  people  out  of  the 
law  of  God." 

Mr.  Wilson  left  Boston  the  latter  end  of  March, 
1631.  Mr.  FJiot  arrived  November  following, 
with  the  governour's  lady  and  sixty  other  persons, 
in  the  ship  Lyon.  He  immediately  joined  the  first 
church,  and  preached  with  them  till  he  settled  at 
Roxbury.  Had  he  accepted  the  call  from  the  first 
church,  it  might  have  been  happy  for  the  people  ;- 
but  most  probably  the  great  work  which  he  after- 
Wards  undertook,  would  not  have  been  devised,  and 
for  this  he  was  very  peculiarly  qualified.  But  had 
the  connexion  taken  place,  those  animosities  might 
have  been  prevented,  which  afterwards  divided  the 
church,  banished  the  christian  spirit  from  their 
councils,  and  disturbed  the  whole  community.  Mr. 
Cotton,  who  was  called  to  be  their  teacher,  was  a 
learned  and  excellent  man,  but  opinionated ;  he 
countenanced  Wheelwright,  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and 
others,  who  were  spreading  antimonian  errors 
through  all  the  churches.  The  pastor,  Mr.  Wil- 
son, gov.  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Dudley,  supported  and 
defended  the  principles  and  practices  of  the  church- 
es, before  this  fanatical  woman,  Mrs.  Hutchinson, 
came  into  the  country.  With  them  were  the  min- 
isters and  people  of  the  other  congregations  ;  but 
Vane  w^as  govern  our,  a  hot-brained  enthusiast,  and 
under  his  wing  Mr.  Cotton  carried  on  the  opposi- 
tion against  the  pastor  ;  the  church  was  divided  ; 
mutual  censures  passed  between  the  brethren,  and 
every  thing,   especially  their  ecclesiastical  affairs j 


ELI  J77 

wore  a  most  gloomy  aspect.  Amidst  this  melani. 
choly  kind  of  embarrassment,  the  prudence  and 
good  sense  of  gov,  Winthrop  were  conspicuous* 

Such  abilities  and  so  much  candour  as  he  possess- 
ed were  absolutely  necessary  for  the  times. 

The  prior  engagement  of  Mr.  Eliot  to  settle  with 
the  people  at  Roxbury,  who  came  over  with  him  ia 
the  same  ship,  and  to  whom  he  was  warmly  attach- 
ed, was  sufficient  to  satisfy  his  friends  of  the  church 
in  Boston,  and  they  gave  him  a  regular  dismission. 
He  was  accordingly  united  with  the  church  at  Rox- 
bury  as  their  teacher,  and  Mr.  VVelde  was  called  the 
next  year  to  be  their  pastor.  They  lived  in  much 
harmony  ;  and  under  their  ministry  the  town  grew 
and  flourished  ; — -it  still  retains  a  rank  of  dir.tinction 
among  the  best  places  in  the  environs  of  the  me- 
tropolis. 

He  certainly  was  the  most  successful  missionary 
that  ever  preached  the  gospel  to  the  Indians.  His 
prudence  and  zeal,  his  patience,  resolution,  activity 
and  knowledge  of  mankind,  were  equally  conspicu- 
ous. Many  have  done  worthily  in  this  benevolent 
work  ;  but  if  w^e  unite  an  apt  method  of  applying  the 
truths  of  Christianity  to  the  minds  of  the  heathen 
with  the  success  of  his  labours,  he  far  excelled  them 
all.  He  likewise  claims  a  very  peculiar  character, 
as  being  the  first  Protestant  minister  who  diffused 
the  beams  of  evangelical  truth  among  the  wild  na- 
tions of  this  benighted  part  of  the  globe.  The  tribes 
that  roamed  through  the  desarts  become  dear  to 
him,  like  his  own  people,  and  he  often  forsook  the 
charms  of  civilized  and  cultivated  society,  to  reside 
with  men,  who  were  not  only  unacquainted  with 
every  thing  called  urbanity^  but  who  wanted  com- 
fortable means  of  subsistence  ;  with  whom  he  would 
associate  days  and  weeks  to  instruct  them  in  di- 
vine things-— and  also  acquaint  them  how  they  could 
improve  their  condition  upon  the  earth.  He  partook 
with  them  their  hard  fare,  with  locks  wet  with  the 
deiios  of  the  night,  and  exposed  to  attacks  from  thf 


178  ELI 

beasts  of  the  forests  ;  or  to  their  spears  and  arrows 
who  were  fiercer  than  wolves,  and  more  terrible  in 
their  howling.  None  of  these  things  moved  him, 
but  he  was  more  collected  as  he  was  in  the  face  of 
danger  ;  like  a  brave  soldier,  he  fought  the  good 
fight  of  faith,  bearing  every  suffering  with  cheerful- 
ness, and  every  pain  with  resignation. 

When  our  Indian  apostle  began  his  mission, 
there  were  about  seventeen  or  twenty  tribes  within 
the  limits  of  the  English  planters.  But  these  tribes 
were  not  large,  and  hardly  to  be  distinguished  ;  for 
their  manners,  language  and  religion  were  the  same. 

The  Massachusetts  language,  in  which  he  trans- 
lated the  bible  and  several  practical  treatises,  would 
serve  the  purpose  of  a  missionary.  The  first  thing 
he  did  was  to  learn  this  language  of  the  people,  and 
then  he  could  preach  without  the  medium  of  an  in- 
terpreter, which  is  likely  to  cause  mistakes— and 
sometimes  in  material  points.  An  old  Indian,  who 
could  speak  English,  was  taken  into  his  family,  and 
by  conversing  freely  with  him  he  learnt  to  talk  it, 
and  soon  was  able  to  reduce  it  to  some  method,  and 
became  at  last  so  much  master  of  it,  as  to  publish  a 
grammar,  which  is  printed  in  some  editions  of  the 
Indian  bibles. 

From  his  contemporaries,  and  from  his  writings, 
we  learn,  that  he  always  preached  in  a  plain  man- 
ner, but  had  a  happy  facility  of  communicating  his 
ideas  upon  subjects  adapted  for  his  people.  He  was 
warm  and  diffusive,  tender  and  pathetic,  rather  co- 
pious than  correct  in  his  language  ;  but  though  his 
style  was  not  varied  with  much  art,  his  publick  per- 
formances were  acceptable  in  all  the  churches.  His 
method  was  natural,  his  expression  easy,  his  voice 
audible,  and  his  manner  very  interesting.  Out  of 
the  abundance  of  his  heart  his  mouth  spake,  in 
preaching  and  praying  ;  and  no  pastor  of  New  En- 
gland saw  more  of  the  fruit  of  his  labours.  His  dis-» 
courses  are  without  those  quibbles,  gingling  words, 
q^d  quaint  turos,  which  mark  the  false  taste  of  the 


ELI  m 

age  ;  but  were  as  common  in  English,  as  in  Ameri- 
can sermons.  This  strain  of  preaching  was  intro- 
duced here  by  scholars  educated  in  European  semi- 
naries, and  too  successfully  imitated  by  the  sons  of 
our  college.  The  author  of  the  Magnalia  abounds 
even  with  puerile  conceits,  and  on  this  account  has 
not  received  that  tribute  of  respect  from  literary- 
men  of  this  generation,  which  he  deserves,  for  pre- 
serving many  facts,  or  such  minute  circumstances 
of  events,  as  are  entertaining  to  read,  without  his 
peculiarities  of  style  ;  and  are  of  infinite  service  to 
all  who  would  know  the  affairs  of  their  own  coun- 
try. To  this  author,  who  was  intimately  acquaint- 
ed widi  Mr.  Eliot,  we  are  indebted  for  an  extract 
of  a  sermon  upon  the  heavenly  conversation,  which 
exhibits  the  preacher  in  his  common  attitude  ;  for 
the  words  were  taken  as  they  dropped  from  his 
mouth,  without  his  supposing  that  they  would  ever 
appear  in  print.  We  certainly  can  form  a  more  cor- 
rect opinion  of  the  preacher's  talents  than  from  the 
description  in  his  biography,  where  he  tells  us,  that 
*'  lambs  might  wade  into  his  discourses,  on  those 
texts  and  themes  wherein  elephants  might  swim." 

As  to  his  moral  and  christian  character,  it  was 
as  exemplary  as  his  ministerial  qualifications  were 
excellent.  His  mind  was  governed  by  a  sense  of 
duty,  and  not  a  mere  ease  and  complacency  of  hu- 
mour, which  makes  a  man  good-natured  when  he  is 
pleased,  and  patient  when  he  has  nothing  to  vex 
him.  He  brought  his  religion  into  all  his  actions. 
A  stranger  to  artifice  and  deceit,  he  disliked  the 
appearance  of  them  in  others.  He  felt  equal  obliga- 
tions to  perform  the  duties  of  piety,  virtue  and  be- 
nevolence. Such  was  the  man.  He  clothed  him- 
self with  humility  as  with  a  robe.  Literally  speak- 
ing, he  wore  a  leathern  girdle  about  his  lions.  Per- 
haps this  might  show  too  strong  a  prejudice  against 
dress  ;  but  all  his  actions  discovered  a  temper  free 
from  vanity,  and  a  desire  to  be  humble,  rather  than 
to  gain  the  praise  of  men.    He  was  very  temperate^ 


180  E  L  1 

one  dish  was  his  homely  repast.  When  he  dined 
abroad,  he  would  not  indulge  himself  in  the  luxu- 
ries of  the  table.  He  drank  water,  and  said  of  wine, 
**  it  is  a  noble,  generous  liquor,  and  we  should  be 
humbly  thankful  for  it,  but,  as  1  remember,  water 
was  made  before  it."  His  maintenance  was  a  free 
contribution,  or  raised  upon  peus,  and  the  people 
of  Hoxbury  cheerfully  supported  two  ministers.  It 
was  his  request,  to  give  up  his  salary  when  he  could 
no  longer  preach.  '"  1  do  here,"  said  he,  *'  give  up 
my  salary  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  and  now, 
brethren,  you  may  fix  that  upon  any  man  that  God 
shall  make  a  pastor."  But  the  society,  in  their  an- 
swer, told  hmi,  that  they  accounted  his  presence 
worth  any  sum  granted  for  his  support,  even  if  he 
were  superannuated  so  as  to  do  no  further  service 
for  them.  The  youth  of  the  congregation  called 
him  their  father  and  ihGir  friend,  and  their  affection 
chased  away  the  gloom  so  apt  to  hover  around  the 
evening  of  life*  Such  attentions  from  the  rising 
generation,  are  like  medicine  to  the  spirit  of  a  man 
sinking  within  him.  The  reflection  of  a  life  well 
spent,  and  the  kindness  of  his  friends,  made  his  old 
age  pleasant. 

In  domesticklife,  Mr.  Eliot  was  peculiarly  happy. 
His  lady  was  an  excellent  economist,  and  by  her 
prudent  management  enabled  him  to  be  generous  to 
his  friends,  and  hospitable  to  strangers.  It  ought 
to  be  mentioned  to  the  credit  of  this  excellent  wo- 
man, thac  with  a  moderate  stipend  and  her  prudence, 
he  educated  four  sons  at  Cambridge,  who  were  a- 
mong  the  best  preachers  of  that  generation.  A  small 
salary,  where  a  proper  arrangement  is  made  of  the 
expenses,  and  the  wife  looks  well  to  the  ways  of  her 
household^  may  answer  generous  as  well  as  necessa- 
ry purposes  :  But  when  frugality  is  despised,  and 
prudence  called  a  nigardly  virtue  ;  when  the  frag- 
mt  nts  which  might  be  gathered  are  lost,  it  is  not 
the  income  of  the  most  lucrative  stations,  much  less 
the  salaries  of  pastors  of  churches,  that  will  maintain 
people  in  case  and  independence. 


ELI  181 

By  tlie  influence  of  Mr.  Boyle,  his  honorable 
friend,  Mr.  Eliot  was  allowed  fifty  pounds,  annually, 
from  the  society  de  propagandjide.  This  enabled 
him  to  gratify  his  benevolent  propensities  ;  the  poor 
Indians,  to  whom  the  r^^ospel  was  preached,  shared 
the  most  of  the  donation.  His  character  is  thus  ce- 
lebrated by  one  ot  his  biographers  :—"  it  was  a 
brilliant  star  in  the  constellation  of  his  virtues,  and 
the  rays  of  it  were  various  and  extensive.  He  gave 
largely  from  his  own  income  to  the  poor,  and  pro- 
moted all  kinds  of  useful  distributions,  especially  if 
he  could  serve  the  cause  of  religion.  When  his 
age  unfitted  him  for  publick  employment,  he  re- 
flected that  he  did  good  as  he  had  opportunity, 
*'  Alas  !"  said  he,  "  I  have  lost  every  thing. — My 
understanding  leaves  me,  my  memory  fails  me,  but 
1  thank  God  my  charity  holds  out  still.  * 

It  becomes  necessary  to  mark  the  minute  circum* 
stances  of  a  person's  character,  if  we  would  obtain 
just  views  of  his  temper  and  aciions.  Hence  bio- 
graphy differs  from  nistory,  whose  province  is  to 
describe  great  events  which  elevate  the  mind  of  the 
reader  ;  and  which  require  d  dignity  of  manner  with 
the  glow  of  sentiment.  But  in  the  narrative  of  pri- 
vate life,  we  survey  the  man  in  all  his  various  atti- 

*  So  great  was  Mr.  Eliot's  charity,  that  his  salary  was  often 
distributed  for  the  relief  of  his  needy  neighbours,  so  soon  after  the 
period  at  which  he  received  it,  that  belore  anolher  period  arrived 
his  own  family  were  straitened  for  the  comforts  of  life  One  day 
the  parish  treasurer  on  paying  the  money  for  salary  due,  which 
he  put  into  a  handkerchief,  in  order  to  prevent  Mr.  t  liot  from 
giving  away  his  money  before  he  got  home,  tied  the  ends  of  the 
handkerchief  in  as  many  hard  knots  as  he  could.  The  good  man 
received  his  handkerehief*  and  took  leave  of  the  treasurer.  He 
immediately  went  to  the  house  of  a  sick  and  necessitous  family. 
On  entering,  he  gave  them  his  blessing,  and  told  them  God  had 
sent  them  some  relief.  The  sufferers  with  tears  of  gratitude 
■welcomed  their  pious  benefactor,  who  with  moistened  eyes  began 
to  untie  the  knots  in  his  handkerchief.  After  many  efforts  to  get 
at  his  money,  and  impatient  at  the  perplexity  and  delay,  he  gave 
the  handkerchief  and  all  the  money  to  the  mother  of  the  family, 
saying  with  a  trembling  accent :  ''  Here?  my  dear,  take  it  j  1  be- 
lieve the  Lord  designs  it  all  for  you.'* 


i82  ELI 

tudes,  frequently  without  a  design  to  point  a  moral : 
We  follow  him  through  the  vales  and  descents  of 
his  situation, and  feel  interested  in  everything  which 
concerns  him,  till,  by  dwelling  upon  kindred  ima^ 
ges,  he  grows  into  a  familiar  acquaintance. 

Most  men  have  their  oddities  and  strange  hu- 
xnours.  Among  the  prejudices  of  Mr.  Kliot  was 
one  very  strong  against  wearing  nvigs.  He  preach- 
cd  against  it ;  he  prayed  against  it ;  he  thought  all 
the  calamities  of  the  country,  even  Indian  wars, 
might  be  traced  to  this  absurd  fashion.  Many 
things  have  been  told  by  the  people  of  Roxbury, 
which  were  handed  down  to  them  by  their  ances- 
tors, that  seem  onlj?-  lii^e  amusing  stories,  of  the 
good  man's  resentment.  And  in  the  written  ac- 
count by  Cotton  Mather,  it  is  said  that  he  thought 
it  a  ''  luxurious,  feminine  protexity  for  men  to  wear 
their  hair  long."  Especially,  a  shame  for  minis- 
ters of  the  gospel  to  *'  ruffle  their  heads  in  excesses 
of  this  kind."  The  doctor  touches  lightly  upon 
this  subject,  for  he  himself  wore  a  wig  ;  and  he 
makes  a  judicious  observation — *'  Doubtless,"  said 
be,  "  it  may  be  lawful  in  us  to  accommodate  our 
hair  to  the  modest  customs  which  vary  in  the 
cuurch  of  God ;  and  it  may  be  lawful  for  them, 
who  have  not  hair  of  their  own,  enough  for  their 
health,  to  supply  themselves  according  to  the  sober 
modes  of  the  places  where  they  live,  Mr.  Eliot 
lived  to  sec  the  prevalence  of  the  fashion,  to  see  ma- 
ny an  orthodox  minister  wear  a  great  white  wig, 
and  it  is  reported  that  he  gave  over  the  utterance 
of  his  grieved  spirit,  saying  only  as  a  last  word  of 
complaint  that  the  *'  lust  was  insuperable." 

His  prejudices  were  as  strong  against  the  use  of 
tobacco.  He  thought  it  was  a  sacrifice  of  precious 
time — a  silly  amusement,  disgusting  in  itself;  that 
christians  ought  not  to  become  slaves  to  such  a  per- 
nicious weed,  and  besotted  by  its  influence.  But 
he  might  as  well  have  preached  to  the  moon,  as  to 
resist  the  tide  of  fasluon ;  or  fought  with  the  stars 


ELI  185 

in  their  courses,  as  to  struggle  with  the  pride  of  o- 
piiiion,  or  the  appetites  of  sense  ;  and  try  to  per- 
suade  men  not  to  use  a  weed  which  carries  a  charm 
with  it  for  its  intoxicating  quality  ; — which  equally 
tends  to  exhilarate  their  spirits  and  amuse  their  lei^ 
sure  hours. 

The  use  of  ardent  spirits  was  then  hardly  known. 
Hugh  Peters,  a  friend  of  his,  and  contemporary 
writer,  says  :  He  never  saw  a  man,  woman,  or  child, 
drunk  in  the  streets  of  Boston— nor  recollects  hear- 
ing an  oath.  Stern  virtue  had  a  dominion  or  au- 
thority which  she  has  lost  since,  and  it  may  be  long 
before  we  recur  to  the  practices  or  principles  of 
the  New  England  planters. 

Our  Roxbury  divine  has  been  accused  by  some 
ef  versatility  in  his  opinions  and  conduct :  By 
others,  of  being  too  set  and  rigid  in  his  notions.  If 
there  is  an  inconsistency  in  this',  it  is  what  we  see 
every  day.  Persons  think  themselves  right  and  are 
warm  in  defending  a  sentiment. — The  same  sensibil- 
ity  of  mind  may  be  manifested  after  they  have  altered 
their  way  of  thinking.  Hutchinson  quotes  a  letter 
of  Hooker,  where  he  says  :  *'  A  copy  of  Mr.  Vane's 
expressions  at  Roxbury,  1  desire  to  see  and  receive 
by  the  next  messenger.  I  have  heard  that  my  bro- 
ther Eliot  is  come  about  to  this  opinion :  1  have 
writ  to  him — I  would  fain  come  to  a  bandy  with 
bim,  where  I  might  be  a  little  rude  in  the  business, 
for  I  do  as  verily  believe  it  to  be  false,  as  1  do  be- 
lieve  any  article  of  my  faith  to  be  true."  From  his 
behaviour  at  the  trial  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  we  rather 
think  Mr.  Hooker  was  misinformed.  He  never  was 
a  partizan  of  Vane,  but  always  adhered  to  gov. 
Winthrop. 

His  setness  of  opinion  was  also  manifested  in 
controverting  w^ith  the  great  Dr.  Owen  the  proper 
observation  of  the  sabbath,  but  he  thought  the  doc- 
tor's name  and  character,  might  carry  more  weight 
than  his  arguments  had  intrinsic  excellency. 

His  political  opinions  more  than  once  brought 


184  E  L  I 

him  into  trouble.  He  spake  with  freedom  against 
the  Indian  treaty,  and  was  obliged  to  recant  before 
the  magistrates.  Roger  Williams  and  he  were  of 
the  same  opinion,  but  the  one  was  convinced,  and 
confessed  his  error  ;  the  other  I'jas  not  so  easily  mov- 
ed  or  convinced. 

This  was  in  the  year  1636.  Afterwards  he  dis- 
covered more  of  a  democratic  spirit,  by  writing  a- 
gainst  monarchy,  when  it  was  not  safe  for  puritan 
divines  to  speak  of  the  ruling  power,  and  the  re- 
publicans in  the  mother  country  had  their  tongues 
locked  in  silence.  Hutchinson  tells  us,  in  the  first 
book  of  his  history,  that  the  governour  and  coun- 
cil, in  the  year  1660,  took  notice  of  a  book  pub- 
lished by  Mr.  Eliot  not  long  before,  intitled,  the 
Christian  Commonwealth^  full  of  seditious  princi- 
ples and  notions,  in  relation  to  all  established  gov- 
ernments in  the  christian  world,  especially  against 
the  government  established  in  their  native  country. 
Upon  consultation  with  the  elders,  their  censure 
was  deferred  until  the  next  general  court,  that  Mr. 
Eliot  might  have  an  opportunity,  in  the  mean  time, 
of  making  a  publick  recantation.  At  the  next  ses- 
sion, Mr.  Eliot  gave  in  his  acknowledgment  to  the 
court : 

"  Understanding,  by  an  act  of  the  honoured 
council,  that  there  is  offence  taken  at  a  book  pub- 
lishcd  in  England  by  others,  the  copy  whereof  was 
sent  over  by  myself  about  ten  years  since,  and  that 
the  further  consideration  thereof  is  commended  to 
this  honourable  general  court,  now  sitting  in  Bos- 
ton. Upon  perusal  thereof,  I  do  judge  myself  to 
have  offended ;  and,  in  a  way  of  satisfaction,  not 
only  to  the  authority  of  this  jurisdiction,  but  also 
to  any  others  that  shall  take  notice  thereof,  I  do 
hereby  acknowledge  to  this  general  court,  that  such 
expressions  as  do  manifestly  scandalize  the  govern- 
ment of  England  by  king,  lords,  and  commons,  as 
antichristian,  and  justify  the  late  innovator,  1  do 
sincerely  bear  testimony  against,  and  acknowledge 


ELI  185^ 

it  to  be  true,  not  only  a  lawful,  but  eminent,  form 
of  government. 

"  2.  All  form  of  civil  government  deduced  from 
scripture,  I  acknowledge  to  be  of  God,  and  to  be 
subjected  to,  for  conscience'  sake  ;  and  whatsoever 
is  in  the  whole  epistle  or  book  inconsistent  here- 
with, I  do  at  once  most  cordially  disown."  Jo  hit 
Eliot." 

The  books  were  ordered  by  the  court  to  be  call- 
ed in,  and  this  acknowledgment  to  be  posted  up  in 
the  principal  towns  of  the  colony. 

During  the  war  with  the  sachem  Philip,  1675, 
our  Roxbury  divine  appears  in  a  character  very  in- 
teresting to  the  community.  The  traces  of  war 
arc  blood  and  slaughter.  The  people  of  Massachu- 
setts,  in  their  phrenzy,  would  have  destroyed  the 
fraying  Indians  with  the  savages  whose  feet  were 
swift  to  spread  destruction  in  every  path.  Mr.  El- 
iot was  their  advocate  and  friend.  They  were  put 
under  a  kind  of  duress,  which  was  injurious  to  them 
if  they  were  innocent,  but  which  was  more  aggra- 
vating  because  they  took  a  decided  part  against  their 
own  nation  ;  this  they  bore  with  patience,  or  a  ve. 
ry  faint  expression  of  complacency.  Mr.  Eliot  was 
not  only  persuaded  that  they  were  friendly,  but 
that  they  were  of  great  service  to  the  English,  with 
whom  they  would  live  or  die,  rather  than  mingle 
with  heathens.  Being  assisted  by  gen.  Gookin,  he 
defended  their  cause,  and  protected  them  against 
those  men  of  violence  who  were  less  in  the  image 
of  God  than  those  poor  outcasts  of  human  society  ; 
Tuen^  who  lost  their  reputation,  as  christians,  be- 
cause they  gave  way  to  the  fury  of  their  passions. 
Every  thing  was  said  against  the  minister  and  ma- 
gistrate which  could  be  uttered  by  the  foul  mouth 
of  the  vulgar,  or  from  the  lips  of  some  whose  edu- 
cation was  liberal,  and  whose  religion  ought  to  have 
made  more  candid  ;  but  who  stimulated  the  bitter 
sarcasms  of  the  multitude.  Nothing  could  shake 
the  resolution  of  such  men,  conscious  of  rectitude  s 
A  a 


186  ELI 

and  we  never  behold  the  subject  of  these  nicmoirs*tQ 
more  advantage  than  he  appears  when  he  pleads  the 
cause  of  these  poor,  friendless  beings.  It  is  no 
wonder,  therefore,  that  having  shown  his  abilities 
and  firmness,  he  acquired  such  an  influence  over 
the  various  tribes  as  no  other  missionary  to  the  In- 
dians could  ever  obtain.  We  can  overlook  a  mul- 
titude of  errors,  where  such  divine  charity  throws 
the  purest  lustre  upon  the  character.  We  can  ex- 
cuse such  prejudices,  which  by  themselves  seem 
like  effusions  of  human  vjeakness,  when,  in  the  same 
life,  we  see  the  charms  of  virtue  ;  nor  let  us  blame 
even  an  obstinacy  of  humour  if  mingled  with  a 
firmness  that  gives  dignitv  to  human  nature.  Hav- 
ing mentioned  certain  oddities  in  his  disposition,  or 
a  few  singularities,  or  puerile  antipathies  against 
new  customs,  which  in  the  present  day  would  cause 
a  smile  of  ridicule,  let  these  be  balanced  by  the  hon- 
esty and  frankness  of  his  manners.  He  was  as  te- 
nacious of  truth  and  justice  as  of  his  own  opinion. 
He  must  also  have  possessed  some  of  those  rare 
qualities  which  conciliate  popularity,  an  uncommon 
affability  to  gain  an  influence  in  society  which  could 
never  be  acquired  by  ministerial  gifts  and  graces, 
although  these  might  make  him  an  ornament  to  the 
pulpit. 

There  is  a  story  which  perhaps  should  not  be 
omitted.  It  is  related  by  one  fond  of  the  marvel- 
lous, (Cotton  Mather.)  Mr.  Eliot  was  in  a  boat, 
that  was  overset  by  a  vessel  running  against  it,  A 
profane  wretch,  one  who  clamoured  for  the  extir- 
pation of  the  fraying  Indians  said,  he  wished  the 
man  of  God  had  been  drowned.  In  a  few  days  this 
man  was  drowned  in  the  very  place  where  Mr.  El- 
iot had  received  his  deliverance. 

After  living  eighty-six  years  in  this  world  of  tri- 
al, the  spirit  of  this  excellent  divine  took  its  flight 
to  a  better  world.  For  many  years  he  had  his  con- 
versation in  heaven  ;  his  faith  seemed  to  be  swal- 
lowed up  in  vision,  and  his  hopes  in  fruition.     He 


E  L  I  187 

lost  his  most  amiable  companion  two  years  before. 
He  was  then  sick  and  expected  and  longed  for  his 
own  departure.  Their  children  they  had  followed 
to  the  grave^  and  had  comforted  each  other  as  they 
drank  the  bitter  ingredients  from  the  cup  of  adver- 
sity.    He  died  in  the  year   1690. 

Few  of  his  family  were  alive  to  lament  his  death  ; 
but  he  was  lamented  by  the  whole  family  of  virtue, 
and  by  all  the  sincere  friends  of  religion.  The  poor 
church  at  Natick  not  only  joined  with  those  who 
dropped  a  tear  upon  his  dust,  but  streams  of  sorrow 
flowed  from  the  heart.  Though  he  lived  many 
years  they  were  filled  with  usefulness  ;  succeeding 
generations  mentioned  his  name  with  uncommon 
respect ;  his  labours  w^ere  applauded  in  Europe  and 
America ;  and  all  who  now  contemplate  his  active 
services,  his  benevolent  zeal,  his  prudence,  his  up- 
right conduct,  his  charity,  are  ready  to  declare  his 
memory  precious.  Such  a  man  will  be  handed 
down  to  future  times,  an  object  of  admiration  and 
love  ;  and  appear  conspicuous  in  the  historick  page 
when  distant  ages  celebrate  the  Worthies  of  ]Sei\) 
England.^ 

♦  Works. — The  true  commonwealth  ;  tears  of  repentance,  Sec. 
harmony  of  the  gospels  ;  an  Indian  grammar ;  Indian  psalter; 
the  whole  bible  in  the  same  language. 

Of  Mr.  Eliot's  four  sons,  the  eldest,  John  Eliot,  was  graduated 
at  Cambridge  m  1656;  was  settled  at  Newton,  the  spot  where  the 
first  assembly  of  praying  Indians  were  assembled.  He  was  a 
preacher  to  the  aboriginals,  and  probably  assisted  his  father  in 
translating  the  scriptures  Mr.  Homer  in  his  history  of  Newton 
has  given  a  very  interestmg  view  of  the  character  of  this  excellent 
divine.     He  died.  1668,  in  the  53d  year  of  his  age. 

Joseph,  the  second  son,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,! 653. 
He  was  minister  of  the  church  at  Guildford,  in  Connecticut,  above 
30  years.     He  died,  1694 

Samuel,  the  third  son, was  graduated,  1660  ;  was  a  tutor  and  fel- 
low of  Harvard  College  ;  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  He  died  ear- 
ly in  life,  '^  a  young  man  eminent  for  learning  and  goodness." 

Benjamin,  the  fourth  son,  was  graduated,  1665;  was  ordained 
colleague  with  his  father,but  died  before  him  :  upon  which  the  au- 
thor of  the  Magnalia  makes  this  reflection,  after  G  Nazianzen, 
"  The  father  havmg  laid  up  in  a  better  world  a  rich  inheritance  for 
his  children  sent  a  son  of  his  before  to  take  possession  of  it." 


ass  £  L I 

4 

Eliot  Jared,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Killin.^- 
worth,  Connecticut,  was  the  son  of  the  rev.  Joseph 
Eliot,  of  Guildford,  and  born,  Nov.  7,  1685  ;    he 
was  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1706.    He  proceed- 
ed master  of  arts  ;  and  had  the  degree  also  present- 
ed from    Harvard   College.      He  was   minister  of 
Killingworth  till  his  death,  April,  1763.    In  Chand- 
ler's life  of  president  Johnson,  we  are  told,  that  Mr. 
Eliot  once  doubted  of  the  validity  of  presbyterian 
ordination.       He  afterwards  acknowledged  that  he 
had  been  too  precipitate  in  forming  and  communi- 
cating his  opinion.     From  the  account  of  the  epis- 
copal writers  one  would  suppose  that  the  clergy  and 
people  of  Connecticut,  at  that  period,  were  very  il- 
literate ;    or  that  none  but  the  rector  of  Yale,  and 
those  young  gentlemen  who  had  declared  in  favour 
of  the  episcopal  church  were  conversant  with  books, 
or   had  any    reputation  for  knowledge.     By  other 
accounts,    especially    by   certain  letters  sent  to  the 
ministers  of  Boston,  it    appears,    that    there    were 
other  men   of  talents  in  the  government  of  the  col- 
lege ;    and  that,  in  this  very  controversy  with    the 
rector,  they  were  able  to  convince  three y  who  made  a 
great  figure  in  their  profession,  that  their  ordination 
had  been  valid.     Mr,  E.  had   been  among  those 
who    were   the   most    strenuous.        He,   and   Mr. 
Johnson  had  not  only  expressed  doubts,   but  a  full 
persuasion,that  there  was  no  ordination  except  from 
the  hands  of  bishops  in  a  line  from  the  apostles.    It 
is  agreed  on  all  sides  that  the  six  young  gentlemen 
who  signed  the  declaration,  were  excellent  scholars, 
and  of  irreproachable  morals  ;  but  the  opinion  which 
some  had  of  the  rector  was  very  different  from  what 
his  friends  have  represented.     "  He  was  an  episco- 
palian many  years  while  minister  at  Stratford  ;"   he 
"accepted  the  chair  of  Yale  College  when  "  he  knew 
he  was  guilty  of  dissimulation  ;"  he  acted  a  Jesuit- 
ical part  in  seducing  young  men  of  talents  from  the 
paths  they  and  their  fathers  had  walked  ;    and  was 
such  a  bigot  as  to  declare  before  the  trustees^  that 


ELI  18$ 

lie  believed  "  there  was  no  salvation  out  of  the  epis'- 
copal  church."  These  things  were  said  by  the 
trustees  of  the  college  ;  perhaps  their  prejudices 
might  give  a  tone  of  severity  to  their  censure  of 
his  conduct  when  he  first  delivered  his  sentiments 
in  publick.^ 

Mr.  Lliot  was  a  member  of  the  corporation  of 
Yale  College  from  the  year  1730  to  1762. 

In  1752,  president  Clap  wrote  his  defence  of  the 
'New  England  churches.  At  a  general  association 
of  the  ministers  of  the  county  this  book  was  approv- 
ed, and  signed  by  Jared  Eliot,  moderator. 

Whether  he  ever  published  any  sermons  or  theo- 
logical treatise,  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain, 
except  a  "  sermon  upon  the  taking  of  Louisburg, 
1745."  He  was  distinguished  for  his  skill  in  natu- 
ral philosophy,  and  made  some  physical  experi- 
ments  which  were  useful  as  well  as  ingenious.  As 
a  botanist  he  was  certainly  the  first  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  his  "  agricultural  essays"  have  passed 
through  several  editions.! 

Eliot  Andrew, D.D.  was  born  in  Boston  ;  had 
the  rudiments  of  his  education  at  the  south  gram- 

*  How  is  die  gold  become  dirn,andthe  silver  become  dross,  and 
the  wine  mixt  with  water  I  our  school  gloried  and  flourished  un- 
der the  first  rector,  the  rev.  Mr.  Pearson,  a  pattern  of  piety,  a 
man  of  modest  worth,  of  solid  learning,  and  sound  principles, 
free  from  the  least  arminian  or  episcopal  taint ;  but  it  suffered  a 
decay  for  some  years,  because  of  the  want  of  a  resident  rector. 
But  who  could  have  conjectured,  that  its  nume  beiQg  raistd  to 
Collegium  Yalense  from  a  Gymnasium  Saybrookense,  it  should 
groan  out  Ichabod  in  about  three  years  and  a  half,  under  its  se- 
cond rector,  so  unhkethe  first,  by  an  unhappy  election  set  over  it, 
into  whose  election  or  confirmation,  or  any  act  relating  to  him, 
the  senior  subscriber  hereof  (thougli  not  for  some  reason  through 
malice  bruited  about)  never  came. — Extract  of  a  letter  to  the 
Boston  ministers,  signed,  John  Davenport,  Stamford  S.  Buck- 
ingham, 8cc. 

t  By  the  kindness  of  gov.  Trumbull,  part  of  the  information 
concerning  Mr.  Eliot  was  obtained  from  his  son  George  Kliot, 
esq.  of  Killingworth  —Concerning  the  family  of  the  apostle,  he 
differs  from  the  author  of  the  Magnalia — Benjamin  was  not  the 
fourth  son — there  was  one  named  Aaron,  ntxi  to  Samuel,  who 
died  young.  Mr.  E.  also  relates  that  his  great  grand  father,  the 
apostle  Lliot,  was  born  at  Nasin,  Essex  county. 


190  ELI 

mar  school  under  Dr.  Williams  and  Mr.  Love! ; 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1737  ;  and 
ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  North  street,  April 
14,  1742.  To  delineate  his  character  may  not  be 
proper  for  the  compiler  of  this  work  ;  such  facts 
will  be  mentioned  only,  as  are  necessarily  connected 
withthe  notices  of  his  life.  He  had  a  strong  attachment 
to  the  constitution  of  the  New  England  churches  ; 
was  zealous  in  promoting  the  interest  and  reputa- 
tion of  the  college,  and  active  in  serving  the  pur- 
poses of  all  humane  and  pious  as  well  as  literary  in- 
stitutions. He  was  a  member  of  the  London  soci- 
ety for  propagating  the  gospel  among  the  Indians, 
and  when  a  board  from  Scotland  was  constituted  in 
Boston,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  first  members. 
He  joined  with  others  m  getting  an  act  through  the 
general  court  to  establish  a  similar  society  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, which  was  negatived  by  gov.  Bernard ; 
and  a  large  subscription  lost,  that  was  designed  as 
a  fund  for  the  institution  If  he  ever  manifested  en- 
thusiasm, it  was  in  the  persuasion  of  the  great  good 
which  would  arise  from  the  missions  to  the  various 
tribes  of  the  aboriginals.  The  result,  however, 
did  not  answer  his  expectations  ;  and  the  latter  part 
oi  his  life  he  often  expressed  his  concern  that  such 
lively  hopes  were  defeated,  and  vast  sums  expend- 
ed to  so  little  purpose.* 

•  The  circumstances  preceding  the  war  might  occasion  this 
disapjjointment.  The  Indians  were  wrought  up  to  a  different 
temper  by  other  persons,  from  what  the  preachers  of  the  gospel 
oi  peace  effected.  Sir  William  Johnson  it  is  supposed  had  an 
influence  over  them,  who  was  prejudiced  in  favour  of  the  church 
oi  i'.nglandand  the  measures  of  tne  British  administiation  By 
certain  letters  which  passed  between  gov.  Hutchinson  and  this 
gentleman,  it  seems  the  society  desired  the  governour  to  write, 
and  remonstrate  against  his  conduct,  which  he  very  higldy  resent- 
ed. Another  thing  ought  to  be  considered  as  the  great  hindrance 
of  the  success  of  the  missionaries.  That  they  did  not  first  civil- 
ize them.  It  was  generally  believed  that  the  first  object  should 
be  to  convert  them  ;  and  civihzation  would  follow  of  course. 
This  was  a  favourite  sennment  of  the  board  in  Scotland.  It  met 
the  opinion  also  of  Dr.  Chauncy,  and  several  gentlemen  iaBos- 


E  L  I  l#l 

In  1765,  Dr.  E.  was  chosen  fellow  of  the  corpo- 
ration  of  Harvard  College.  He  had  been  some  years 
secretary  of  the  board  of  overseers  ;  and  was  one  of 
the  committee  to  obtain  donations  after  the  old  col- 
lege was  burnt.  Many  of  the  present  generation 
remember  his  exertions  to  procure  the  present  li- 
brary  and  apparatus.  He  did  not  confine  his  appli- 
cation to  gentlemen  in  the  provinces.  Several  val- 
uable presents  were  made  to  the  library  at  his  par- 
ticular request  by  his  correspondents  in  England. 
When  that  venerable  man,  president  Holyoke,  rest- 
ed from  his  labours,  it  was  the  publick  expectation 
that  he  would  succeed  him,  but  as  he  could  not 
think  of  breaking  the  connection  with  his  people, 
who  were  unwilling  to  part  with  him,  he  declined 
standing  a  candidate  for  the  office.  Afterwards, 
when  the  chair  was  again  vacant  by  the  resignation 
of  another  president,  he  was  one  of  three  fellows  of 
the  college,  elected  by  the  corporation.  This  he 
opposed,  but  his  opinion  was  overruled.  It  appear, 
ed  to  him, as  to  many  other  persons  in  the  province^ 
a  deviation  from  the  line  of  decorum  for  gentlemen 
of  the  same  body  to  choose  each  other  into  office, 
for  the  sake  of  the  honour,  when  it  was  well  under- 
stood they  would  not  accept  it. 

There  were  other  events  in  his  life,  which  are 
worthy  of  a  relation,  as  they  manifest  how  much  his 
aim  was  to  be  useful.  When  lieut.  gov.  Hutchinson's 
house  waspillaged, and  pulled  to  pieces  by  an  infuri- 
ated mob,  his  books  and  mss.  were  thrown  into  the 
streets,  and  were  in  danger  of  being  completely 
destroyed.  Dr.  E.  made  every  exertion  to  save 
them.  Several  trunks  of  mss.  among  them  the  se- 
cond volume  of  the  history  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 

ton.  The  method  the  societies  now  practice  is,  to  teach  them 
the  arts  of  life  ;  and  some  tribes  feel  the  necessity  of  cultivating 
their  lands,  of  acquiring  manual  employments,  are  sensible  of 
the  benefit  of  early  instruction  for  their  children,  so  that  the  pros- 
pect is  fair  of  their  improving  the  means  of  religion  while  they 
enjoy  the  blessings  of  social  life. 


192  ELI 

were  preserved  by  his  care  and  attention,  and  he 
spent  much  time  in  assisting  to  arrange  them. 

Another  thing  may  be  mentioned  as  manifesting 
how  much  he  was  influenced  by  a  sense  of  duty. 
He  remained  in  Boston  during  the  blockade  from 
April  19,  1775,  to  the  March  of  the  succeeding 
year.  His  friends,  his  family,  and  most  of  his  con- 
gregation had  left  the  town,  but  the  inhabitants  who 
could  not  leave  their  dwellings  were  many,  and 
they  constituted  a  very  large  religious  society.  He 
shared  with  them  in  their  affliction,  preached  every 
Sabbath,  and  paid  every  attention  which  is  ever  ex- 
pected from  a  pastor  to  his  flock.  He  often  ob- 
served, that  although  he  never  passed  a  season, 
when  his  own  feelings  were  more  tried,  yet  he  ne- 
ver had  an  opportunity  to  be  more  useful.  Others 
have  said,  his  preaching  was  uncommonly  impres- 
sive. For  several  months  Dr.  Mather  and  he  at- 
tended the  Thursday  lecture,  but  finding  it  incon- 
venient, they  agreed  to  bring  it  to  a  close,  and  a 
farewell  sermon  was  preached  upon  an  occasion 
which  many  circumstances  concurred  to  render  ve- 
ry solemn  and  aff*ecting.  When  the  people  of  the 
town  returned,  this  lecture  was  again  opened;  gen. 
Washington  and  the  officers  of  the  American  army 
attended  ;  a  fuller  assembly  has  been  seldom 
known ;  Dr  E,  preached  from  Isaiah  xxxiii.  20, 
and  gave  a  very  interesting  view  of  the  state  of  the 
town.  The  latter  years  of  his  life,  he  appeared  to  en- 
joy a  good  degree  of  health,  had  the  same  animation 
in  the  pulpit,  and  vivacity  in  his  conversation,  but  he 
was  subject  to  bodily  complaints  which  he  supposed 
to  be  indications  of  a  speedy  dissolution.  In  the 
summer  of  1 778,  he  complained  more  than  usual,  but 
did  not  confine  himself  to  the  house  till  the  first 
week  of  September,  and  died  the  30th  day  of  the 
month.  He  had  been  36  years  in  the  ministry  and 
was  in  the  60th  year  of  his  age.* 

•  Works. — He  was  never  fond  of  printing  sermons.  When  he 
was  desired  to  pubhsh  any  single  discoursQ  which  had  gratifiecl 


END  193^ 

Endicot  John,  governour  of  Massachusetts, 
was  from  Dorchester  in  England,  and  one  who 
purchased  of  the  council  of  Plymouth  that  part  of 
New  England  three  miles  to  the  south  of  Charles 
river,  and  three  miles  north  of  Merrimack  from  the 
Atlantick  to  the  South  sea.  In  the  summer  of 
1628,  he  was  sent  over  to  Naumkeake  with  a  com- 
pany who  considered  him  as  governour  of  the  plan- 
tation, because  all  the  affairs  of  this  infant  settle- 
ment  were  committed  to  his  care.  He  was  a  man 
peculiar  in  his  notions,  rigid  in  his  religious  princi- 
ples, eager  and  ardent  in  all  his  views.  One  of  his 
odd  opinions  was,  that  women  ought  to  wear  veils 
that  their  faces  may  never  be  seen  in  the  church  ; 

bis  people  ;  his  answer  was,  that  he  intended  to  collect  a  num- 
ber, which  he  would  publish  in  a  volume  after  some  years.  This 
volume  of  twenty  sermons  was  printed  in  the  year  1774.  I'he 
other  discourses  which  appeared  at  different  times,  were  five 
"  ordination  sermons  ;"  one  upon  the  *•  inordinate  love  of  the^ 
world  ;**  a  sermon  after  "  the  death  of  Mr.  Webb  ;"  a  fast  ser- 
mon, 1754  ;  one  upon  the  thanksgiving,  1759  ;  the  election  ser- 
mon, 1765  ;  a  sermon  at  the  Dudleian  lecture,  1771  ;  also,  a  ser- 
mon "  upon  the  thief  on  the  cross."  He  wrote  several  pieces  in 
the  episcopal  controversy,  particularly  "  remarks  upon  the  bish- 
op of  Oxford's  sermons,"  extracts  of  which  were  published  in 
England,  by  Dr.  Blackburn ;  his  friends  there  also  printed  an 
edition  of  his  election  sermon.  In  the  memoirs  of  T.  HoUis,  esq. 
of  London,  there  are  several  pages  filled  with  the  letters  he 
wrote  to  that  gentleman.  A  letter  from  a  friend  of  his  will  close 
the  account  of  his  writings.  "  1  well  remember  two  (I  believe 
there  were  three  pieces)  of  your  father's,  which  I  copied  at  his 
desire  and  carried  for  publication,  saying  nothing,  save  that  they 
were  written  by  a  worthy  friend.  To  say  they  were  excellent 
would  be  superfluous.  One  of  them  on  prelatical  ordination  was 
much  spoken  of  and  admired.  Old  justice  Dana  in  particular 
was  abundant ;  I  need  not  say  that  he  was  loud  in  his  praises. 
How  many  others  he  wrote,  of  which  he  was  willing  to  be  known 
as  the  writer,  I  am  not  able  to  say."  The  gentleman  who  wrote 
the  above,  was  his  particular  friend.*  Their  intimacy,  which  be- 
gan in  youth,  and  was  founded  on  mutual  esteem,  increased  with 
their  years ;  death  separated  them  for  a  while,  but  a  most  affec- 
tionate remembrance  of  the  good  qualities  of  his  deceased  frienil 
h  stiil  lively  in  the  breast  of  the  survivor. 

•  Hon,  Samuel  Dexter. 

Bb 


194  END 

and  this  matter  he  disputed  with  Mr.  Cotton  at  a 
lecture  in  Boston.  He  acted  so  violent  a  part  in 
executing  his  plan  of  church  government,  that  we 
are  told,  the  *' friends  of  the  colony  in  England 
wrote  a  reproof  to  him,  and  that  he  never  recover- 
ed his  reputation  in  England. ''*  He  also  gave 
great  oftence  to  the  civil  power  in  the  plantation, 
by  cutting  the  cross  out  of  the  colours.  He  consid- 
ered this  as  a  piece  of  Romish  superstition,  being 
influenced  by  the  opinion  of  his  minister,  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, who,  with  many  prominent  traits  of  a  great 
character,  was  very  zealous  and  opinionated.  1  hey, 
however,  carried  their  point.  For  though  the  mi- 
litia first  refused  to  train  wdth  colours  that  were  so 
defaced,  the  cross  was  very  soon  left  out  by  the 
general  expression  of  the  publick  sentiment.  Mr. 
Endicot  was,  at  the  time,  censured  by  the  people^ 
as  v/ell  as  the  government,  and  the  succeeding  year, 
1635,  left  out  of  the  magistracy.  *'  They  adjudg- 
ed him  worthy  of  admonition,  and  to  be  disabled 
for  one  year  from  bearing  any  publick  office  ;  de- 
clining any  heavier  sentence,  because  they  v/ere 
persuaded  he  did  it  out  of  tenderness  of  conscience 
and  not  of  evil  intent.'" 

Mr,  E.  was  chosen  afterwards  an  officer  to  com- 
mand fourscore  men,  against  the  Pequods  ;  but  not 
succeeding  in  making  an  attack  upon  them,  he  was 
much  blamed.  According  to  the  best  accounts  he 
acted  with  prudence  ;  for  winter  was  approaching, 
and  he  must  have  followed  them  through  the  woods 
wherever  they  fled  ;  his  object  likewise  was  to  make 
a  bolder  attempt  to  subdue  them  the  next  season. 
He  soon  acquired  m.ore  ascendency  in  the  civil  af- 
fairs of  the  colony  ;  and  in  1641  was  chosen  depu- 
ty governour,  which  office  he  held  the  two  succeed- 
ing years,  and  was  placed  in  the  chair  of  government 
in  1644,  Winthrop  being  the  deputy.  A  new  of- 
fice was  created  the  same  year,  that  of  major  gene- 

*  Bentley's  description  of  Sakni.. 


END  195 

ral,  and  given  to  Mr.  Dudley.  He  had  the  sole 
command  of  the  militia,  as  the  governour  was  at 
the  head  of  the  civil  department.  In  1645,  Mr. 
Dudley  was  chosen  governour,  and  Mr.  Endicot 
appointed  major  general.  After  gov.Winthrop  died, 
Dudley  and  Endicot  were  the  candidates  for  the 
chief  seats.  In  1649,  Mr.  E.  was  in  the  chair,  at 
the  head  of  the  magistrates,  and  signed  a  declaration 
against  wearing  wigs,  '*  as  a  thing  uncivil  and  un- 
manly, whereby  men  do  deform  themselves,  and 
oiFend  sober  and  modest  men,  and  do  corrupt  good 
manners."  He  was  chosen  governour  every  year 
from  1655  to  1660.  No  governour  since  the  set- 
tlement of  the  country  has  been  for  so  many  years 
chief  magistrate.  He  was  16  years  governour  of 
the  colony,  and  in  the  office  when  he  died,  15th  of 
March,  1665. 

Though  he  was  more  rigid  in  his  notions,  and 
bigotted  in  his  religious  principles  than  any  other 
of  the  magistrates,  yet  he  was  very  acceptable  to 
the  people  when  they  had  advanced  him  to  the  chief 
places.  The  opposition  he  made  to  gov.  Winthrop, 
and  the  discordant  proceedings  attending  it,  might 
arise  in  some  measure  from  jealousy  and  envy.  He 
had  been  a  kind  of  sub- governour  in  the  plantation 
before  the  gentlemen  came  over  in  the  Arabella. 
They  were  his  superiors  in  property,  character  and 
inftuence.  Though  he  was  one  of  the  assistants,  it 
did  not  satisfy  him.  There  was  another  ground  of 
rivalship  between  the  settlement  at  Naumkeake, 
and  the  towns  that  were  situated  upon  the  banks  of 
Charles  river,  which  place  should  be  the  capital. 
This  caused  bitter  altercations,  and  had  a  political 
influence,  especially  upon  the  choice  of  magistrates. 
Boston  being  such  a  convenient  mart  for  business, 
and  other  circumstances  concurring  to  increase  its 
population,  soon  obtained  the  preference  ;  and  has 
continued  unto  this  day  to  be  the  metropolis. 

Mr.  Endicot  being  in  the  chair  of  government, 
and  having  moved  to  Boston,  had  every  inducement 


196  FAN 

to  promote  the  general  harmony  and  peace  of  the 
community.  The  change  of  government  in  Eng- 
land, when  Charles  II.  came  to  the  throne  was 
grievous  to  all  the  people  of  New  England,  but  to 
no  individual  more  than  to  Mr.  Endicot.  He  had 
every  thing  to  try  his  fortitude  and  his  prudence. 
Several  of  the  regicides  had  been  protected  under 
his  government,  who  fled  from  Massachusetts  when 
the  proclamation  issued  against  them,  reached  these 
shores.  He  afterwards  made  exertions  to  secure 
them.  His  duty,  as  a  publick  oflicer,  stimulated 
him  to  act  thus,  whatever  might  have  been  his 
friendship  for  the  persons.  The  commissioners 
sent  over  by  the  court  of  Great  Britain,  to  inquire 
into  the  state  of  the  colonies,  always  gave  unfa- 
vourable accounts  of  Massachusetts  and  their  gover- 
nour.  Such  was  their  representation  of  his  conduct 
that  the  secretary  of  state  wrote,  <'  The  king  would 
take  it  well,  if  the  people  would  leave  out  Mr.  En- 
dicot  from  the  place  of  governour."  But  no  other 
power  than  death  removed  him  ;  his  body  was  buri- 
ed in  peace,  and  his  name  is  mentioned  among 
those  who  did  honour  to  their  country. 

Ianeuil  Petljr,  esq  presented  the  market- 
house,  to  the  town  of  Boston. — At  a  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants,  it  was  unanimously  voted,  that  the 
town  do  with  the  utmost  gratitude  receive  and  ac- 
cept his  most  generous  and  noble  benefaction,  and 
that  a  committee  of  21  gentlemen  be  appointed  to 
wait  on  him  in  the  name  of  the  town  to  render  him 
their  most  hearty  thanks  for  so  bountiful  a  gift, 
with  their  prayers  that  this  and  other  expressions  of 
his  bounty  and  charity  may  be  abundantly  recom- 
pensed  by  the  divine  blessing. 

In  testimony  of  their  gratitude  they  named  it 
Faneuil  Hall.     They  also  voted  that  the  picture  of 
the  said  Peter  Faneuil,  esq.  be  drawn  at  full  length, 
and  placed  in  the  hall  at  the  expence  of  the  town* 
He  died,  1742. 


FIR  197 

Fir  MI  N  Gyles,  physician  in  New  England, 
preacher  at  Stratford,  in  Great  Britain,  was  born  in 
Suffolk,  1614,  15,  educated  at  Cambridge  univer- 
versity,  and  is  mentioned  by  Dr.  Calamy  among  the 
ejected  ministers,  1662.  He  was  in  Boston  early  in 
life,  being  of  the  puritan  stamp,  and  not  finding  re« 
ligious  freedom  in  his  native  country.  Soon  after  he 
came  to  New  England,  he  was  chosen  deacon  of  the 
church  in  Boston.  He  was  one  of  the  synod  at  Cam- 
bridge, 1637,  and  a  great  opposer  of  the  Antinomi. 
ans.  In  Hutchinson's  collection  of  papers  there  is 
a  letter  of  his,  addressed  to  gov.  Winthrop,  in  1 642, 
soon  after  the  treachery  of  the  governour's  servant, 
who  defrauded  him  of  his  property.  He  expressed 
his  sympathy  upon  this  occasion,  and  then  proposes 
a  settlement  for  himself  and  others  upon  bhawsin 
river. 

At  the  end  of  the  civil  wars  he  returned  to  Eng- 
land,  left  the  profession,  though  not  altogether  the 
practice  of  physick,  and  settled  at  Stratford,  or 
Strawford.  He  was  40  years  of  age  when  he  was 
ordained.  He  continued  to  preach  as  long  as  they 
would  suiFer  him  ;  and  when  ejected  by  that  arbi- 
trary mandate  which  threw  so  many  excellent  men 
into  straits  and  misery,  he  retired  to  Red g well,  a 
little  village,  where  he  contitiued  till  his  death, 
April,  1697, 

It  is  said  he  continued  longer  preaching  than  most 
dissenting  ministers,  on  account  of  the  favour  of 
the  neighbouring  gentry  and  justices  of  the  peace, 
who  applied  to  him  as  a  physician,  and  saw  how 
much  the  poor  were  benefited  by  him,  whom  he 
was  ready  to  serve  gratis.  He  lived  to  be  above 
fourscore,  and  enjoyed  a  fine  state  of  health,  to 
which  change  of  climate,  and  active  life  in  subduing 
the  wilderness  doubtless  contributed.  He  was  emi- 
nent for  his  parts  and  learning.  His  skill  in  phy- 
sick and  surgery  was  uncommon.  He  under- 
stood the  oriental  tongues ;  had  read  the  fathers, 
schoolmen  and  church  history  ;    had  a  logical  acu- 


IDS  F  I  S 

men  which  he  discovered  in  disputing  with  Papists^ 
Socinians,  Arminians.  &c.  but  especially  with  Kpis- 
copalians.       His  own  sentiments  brought  him  to  a 
middle  way  between  the  Presbyterians   and   Inde- 
pendents.    He  states  in  his  book,  ''the  conformist 
and  non- conformist  compared,"  that  there  ought  to 
be  several  elders  in  each  church,  of  which  the  teach- 
ing elder  is  president.     This  was  the  opinion  of 
many  of  our  fathers,  and  was  practised  in  a  large 
proportion  of  the  churches,  but  is  now  set  aside  for 
very  good  reasons,  which  were  not  so  forcible  in 
early  times  of  the  plantation.      His  most  famous 
work,  •'  the  real  christian  or  a  treatise  on  effectual 
calling,"  has  been  printed  several  times  in  Boston, 
and  few  works  were  read  more  by  serious  people  of 
the  last  generation.   As  a  man  he  was  not  rigid  nor 
morose,  but  peaceable,  quiet  and  inoffensive  ;  he  let 
his  moderation  be  known,  and  was  a  lover  of  good 
men  of  all  denominations.* 

FisK  John,  educated  at  Emanuel  College,  Cam- 
bridge, came  to  New  England,  1637,  preached 
three  years  at  Salem,  then  removed  to  Wenham, 
where  he  resided  fourteen  years.  In  1656,  he,  with 
the  greatest  part  of  his  church,  removed  to  Chelms- 
ford.    He  died,  Jan    14,  1676,  aged  75. 

He  was  an  able  physician  as  well  as  a  useful 
preacher.  When  he  was  silenced  in  England  on 
account  of  his  nonconformity,   he  studied  physick, 

*  His  publications  were  numerous.  He  printed,  1651,  Ques- 
tions whether  baptism  should  be  administered  to  the  children  of 
persons  notoriously  wicked.  In  1658,  a  treatise  upon  the  schism 
of  parochial  congregations  in  England.  In  1673,  his  most  fa- 
mous work,  the  real  christian  or  a  treatise  upon  effectual  calling. 
In  1681.  Questions  between  a  conformist  and  non-conformist  tru- 
ly stated,  &c.  Beside  these,  he  published  Presl)yterian  oidination 
vindicated  ;  the  plea  of  children  of  believing  parents  for  their  in- 
terest in  Abraham's  covenant,  their  right  to  church  membership, 
and  several  other  treatises  upon  infant  baptism  ;  remarks  on 
Dr.  Crisp's  writings;  weigiity  questions  discussed,  I.  About 
the  interposition  of  hands,  2.  About  teaching  ^elders  and  tlje 
members  meeting  in  one  place,  4to.  1692, 


FIS  199 

and  after  a  proper  examination,  he  obtained  a  lu 
tense  for  publick  practice.  While  he  was  at  Salenl 
he  was  an  instructor  of  youth  ;  among  his  scholars 
was  the  famous  sir  George  Downing,  whose  father 
had  made  his  settlement  in  that  town. 

Mr.  Fisk  published  a  catechism  which  he  enti- 
tled, ''  the  olive  branch  watered,"  which  was  said 
to  be  a  useful  work  ;  yet  he  chose  the  assembly'' s  cate- 
chism^ov  his  publick  expositions,  which  he  went  over 
in  discourses  before  his  afternoon  sermons  on  the 
Sabbath.  He  died  of  a  complication  of  ails,  and 
is  compared  on  this  account  to  Calvin,  who  was 
troubled  with  as  many  infirmities,  as  in  different 
subjects  might  have  supplied  a  hospital, 

Mr.  Fisk  left  several  children.  One  was  set- 
tled in  the  ministry  at  Braintree.  This  gentle- 
man was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1662 ; 
he  had  a  son  who  was  graduated,  1708,  who  was 
invited  to  settle  in  the  new  church,  Summer  street, 
Boston,  but  the  division  was  so  great,  that  he  de- 
clined their  call.  The  ministers  of  Boston  were 
very  desirous  Mr.  F.  should  be  fixed  in  the 
town.  He  afterwards  was  minister  of  the  first 
ehurch  in  Salem  ;  ordained,  1718  ;  was  dismissed 
from  the  ministry,  1745,  and  died,  1770,  aged  81.- 
He  was  father  of  the  late  gen.  Fisk.  Magnalia. 
Bentley''s  description  of  Salem. 

Fisk  Nathan,  D.  D.  was  born  at  Weston, 
Sept.  6,  1733;  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1754  ;  and  ordained  pastor  of  the  third  church  in 
Brookfield,  May  28,  1758.  He  received  his  diplo- 
ma of  D.  D.  1792.  He  was  a  critical  and  learned 
divine  ;  his  discourses  were  calculated  to  give  in- 
struction, and  allure  men  to  the  love  of  religion. 
They  are  among  the  best  that  have  been  published 
in  this  country.  Though  he  was  not  a  popular 
preacher,  yet  his  manner  was  pathetick,  and  he 
gained  the  affections  of  his  people  while  he  grew  in 
their  esteem  He  was  an  example  of  the  virtues  he 
preached  to  others,  and  all  who  knew  him  loved 


200  FRA 

him.  In  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity  he  had  his 
conversation  in  the  world.  Had  he  not  been  so 
modest  and  unassuming,  he  wouhl  have  made  a 
greater  figure  among  the  celebrated  characters  of 
the  age.  In  the  circle  where  he  moved  he  had  great 
influence ;  all  the  neighbouring  clergy  looked  up 
to  him  as  a  father  and  a  friend.  Among  the  stars 
of  the  churches  he  appeared  with  a  pure  and  serene 
lustre.  His  path  was  that  of  the  "  rising  light  which 
shinethmore  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.'*  This 
text  was  chosen  by  him  for  the  last  discourse  he  ever 
preached,  and  it  must  be  peculiarly  impressive  to  those 
who  knew  the  character  of  the  man.  After  preach- 
ing  on  the  Lord's  day,  Nov.  24,  1799,  he  passed 
the  evening  in  company,  appeared  cheerful  and  in 
good  health,  went  to  bed  apparently  well,  but  dur- 
ing his  sleep,  death  came  as  a  friend  to  remove  him 
to  the  mansions  of  eternal  rest. 

Dr.  Fisk  did  not  confine  himself  to  theological 
publications  ;  he  wrote  a  number  of  essays  in  the 
Massachusetts  Spy  under  the  title  of  the  *'  Worces- 
ter speculator,"  and  also  under  the  signature  of  a 
•'  Neighbour  ;"  and  in  the  Massachusetts  Maga- 
zine under  the  title  of  the  "  General  Observer;'' 
also,  the  philanthropist  in  twenty  numbers.* 

Franklin  Benjamin,  L  L.  D.  F.  R.  S.  was 
born  in  Boston,  January  27,  1706.  His  father  was 
in  a  humble  occupation,  but  industrious,  sober  and 
very  respectable  among  his  fellow  citizens.  The 
newspaper  which  announces  his  death,  represents 
him  as  modest  and  unassuming.  *'  Though  he 
courted  not  the  admiration  of  men,  yet  all  who 
knew  him  admired  him."     He  constantly  attended 

*  His  oVher  printed  works  are,  an  historical  sermon  on  the 
settlement  and  growth  of  Brookfield,  1775  ;  a  fast  sermon,  1776  ; 
a  funeral  sermon  on  Mr.  Joshua  Spencer,  1778  ;  an  oration  on 
the  capture  of  lord  Cornwallis,  1781;  a  sermon  at  the  funeral  of 
Mr.  Josiah  Mobbes,  who  was  killed  by  lightning,  April  24,  1774  ; 
a  volume  of  sermons  on  various  subjects,  1794  ;  the  Uudleian 
lecture  sermon,  1796.  All  his  essays  were  collected  and  pubhsh- 
ed  in  two  volumes,  styled,  the  Moral  Monitor,  1801. 


F  R  A  801 

publick  worship,  and  brought  up  his  children  in 
the  ways  of  piety.  He  had  a  particular  desire  to 
give  Benjamin  a  college  education,  but  wanted  the 
means.  He  therefore  put  him  as  an  apprentice  to 
the  elder  brother,  J.  Fran\lin,  who  then  published 
the  Boston  Gazette,  B.  Green  had  printed  the  Bos- 
ton Newsletter  from  April  24,  1704.  Franklin 
printed  the  first  No.  of  the  Gazette,  Dec.  21, 
1719.  The  very  next  week  Bradford  published 
the  Mercury  at  Philadelphia.  These  were  the  first 
newspapers  printed  in  America.  Soon  after  this, 
Franklin  delivered  over  to  S.  Kneelaiid  the  Gazette, 
and  emitted  another  paper,  called  the  Courant,  which 
became  famous  from  the  literary  effusions  of  his 
brother  Benjamin.  When  he  was  only  a  lad,  he 
wrote  essays  which  were  sprightly  and  satirical,  and 
of  a  tendency  to  gain  subscribers.  Young  Frank* 
lin  was  fond  of  books,  and  acquired  more  know- 
ledge than  is  common  at  that  age  ;  and  according 
to  the  account  which  he  gives  of  himself,  was  as 
wise  in  his  own  conceit,  as  he  was  in  the  estima- 
tion of  others.  The  life  of  an  author  written  by 
himself  generally  displays  more  vanity  than  wisdom. 
Such  talents,  however,  as  Franklin  possessed  could 
not  be  concealed,  had  he  not  been  disposed  to 
trumpet  his  own  fame.  He  not  only  brought  him- 
self into  notice  by  his  writings,  but  distinguished 
himself  among  the  wits,  free  thinkers,  and  merry 
wags  of  the  town.  By  this  conduct  he  forfeited 
the  friendship  of  several  gentlemen  who  were  dis- 
posed to  serve  him ;  who  loved  his  family,  but 
were  the  friends  of  virtue  and  religion.  He  was  al- 
ways the  head  of  every  deistical  club,  with  whom: 
he  associated.  His  zeal  against  the  religious  part 
of  the  community,  as  well  as  his  superiour  genius^ 
gave  him  a  claim  to  the  first  place  of  distinction. 
While  he  remained  in  this  country,  his  chief  com. 
panion  was  Ralphs  who  afterward  went  to  England, 
and  became  a  celebrated  political  writer.  Pope 
gives  him  a  rank  among  dunces;  but  lordMdcombe 
c  c 


202  F  R  A 

speaks  of  him,  as  holding  the  best  pen  among  the 
opposers  of  the  administration  The  literary  repu- 
tation of  Ralph  is  buried  with  him  ;  but  Franklin 
shines  among  the  most  brilliant  characters  of  the 
age.  His  works  have  given  his  name  uncommon 
celebrity  ;  and  his  publick  services  will  never  be 
forgotten  in  his  own  country.  While  he  shines  with 
such  a  peculiar  lustre,  we  regret  that  his  principles 
and  moral  sentimeiUs  in  early  life  were  not  more 
worthy  of  praise.  One  lesson  is  to  be  learned  from 
his  memoirs  :  never  to  put  great  confidence  in  a 
man's  friendship  and  promises,  who  is  destitute  of 
religious  principles.  The  conduct  of  his  bosom 
friends,  who  were  libertines  and  without  religion, 
almost  persuaded  Franklin  to  be  a  christian.  In 
every  instance,  where  he  trusted  them,  they  de- 
ceived him,  and  he  gives  a  warning  to  others  from 
his  own  sad  experience.  He  left  Boston  when  he 
was  only  17  years  of  age.  He  went  to  Philadelphia, 
and  was  introduced  to  gov.  Keith,  who  seemed  dis- 
posed to  patronise  him.  By  his  advice  he  took  a 
voyage  to  England,  that  he  might  complete  himself 
m  every  part  of  his  business.  The  governour  as- 
sured him  of  his  assistance,  which  the  young  man 
vainly  hoped  would  be  greatly  to  his  profit ;  but  in 
this  he  was  disappointed.  The  governour  was  a 
man  of  the  world,  obliging  in  his  manners,  but  with- 
out fidelity  in  his  dealings.  Finding  therefore  that 
he  must  depend  upon  his  own  exertions,  young  Mr, 
Franklin  would  not  bt  idle,  nor  had  he  a  disposi- 
tion to  sink  under  misfortune.  His  mind  was  al- 
ways active,  and  with  such  a  spirit  of  industry  and 
capacity  for  every  kind  of  work,  it  is  no  wonder 
that  he  met  with  success,  if  not  equal  to  his  wishes, 
yet  beyond  what  common  men  would  expect  He 
deserves  the  greater  credit  when  we  view  him  a 
youth,  in  a  strange  land,  fond  of  pleasure,  and 
exposed  to  every  kind  of  temptation.  In  1726,  he 
returned  to  Philadelphia.  He  soon  obtained  em- 
ployment, and  by  his  prudence  and  economy  j  as 


F  R  A  205 

well  as  habitual  industry,  gained  a  subsistence,  and 
in  a  very  few  years  increased  his  property.  In  this 
city,  he  instituted  a  club  for  the  discussion  of  po- 
litical and  philosophical  questions,  which  were  well 
calculated  to  try  and  improve  their  minds.  These 
are  printed  in  his  works.  In  1732,  he  published 
"  poor  Richard's  almanack."  This  is  full  of  pru- 
dential maxims,  economical  hints,  and  good  advice. 
We  see  in  every  page  something  congenial  to  the 
humour  of  the  man.  How  far  such  maxims  influ- 
ence the  generality  of  readers,  is  not  easy  to  say. 
If  ihey  prevent  youth  from  being  extravagant  or 
idle,  they  are  useful ;  but  they  hang  on  the  lips  of 
some,  as  an  excuse  for  their  avarice.  Profusion  is 
not  generosity,  nor  should  a  prudent  man  be  parsi- 
monious. The  wise  sayings  of  "  poor  Richard," 
have  been  repeated,  and  copied,  and  printed  in  ma- 
ny works.  They  appear  in  another  form,  from 
their  author,  in  a  book  entitled,  '*  The  way  to 
wealth." 

Mr.  Franklin  was  chosen  master  of  the  post  of- 
fice in  Philadelphia  in  1737.  The  year  before  he 
had  been  clerk  to  the  general  court.  He  was  em- 
ployed in  much  publick  business,  and  in  many  use- 
ful projects.  In  1731,  he  founded  the  famous  li- 
brary of  Philadelphia.  In  1738,  he  improved  the 
police  of  the  city,  by  organizing  companies  to  se- 
cure their  property  against  fire.  It  is  said  this 
was  the  origin  of  all  the  fire  clubs  which  are  now  in 
every  city.  His  patriotick  zeal  was  also  discover- 
ed in  the  year  1744,  when  a  very  serious  dispute 
happened  between  the  proprietary  interest,  and  that 
of  the  people,  concerning  the  forces  which  were  to 
be  raised  for  their  common  defence.  He  proposed 
a  method  which  seemed  well  calculated  to  end  the 
dispute.  It  was  a  voluntary  association  ;  and  ten 
thousand  joined  in  it  as  subscribers.  Other  remark- 
able services  might  be  mentioned  which  gave  Dr. 
Franklin  a  high  character  among  philanthropists. 
But  as  a  philosopher  he  gained  the  most  notice,. 


304  F  R  A 

and  applause  from  mankind.  He  began  his  '^  elec« 
trical  experiments"  about  the  year  1747*  These 
manifested  an  inventive  genius,  and  he  had  all  the 
activity  and  perseverance  necessary  for  any  investi- 
gation. From  studying  the  properties  of  nature  he 
discovered  a  resemblance  between  lightning  and 
the  electrick  fluid.  He  placed  pointed  metallick 
conductors  upon  the  tops  of  houses  with  rods  that 
went  into  the  ground,  that  the  passing  clouds  might 
discharge  their  fire,  and  do  no  injury  to  the  build- 
ing. Some  physical  reasons,  and  certain  religious 
scruples,  were  at  first  raised  against  their  use  ;  but 
soon  the  metallick  conductors  became  common  in 
>Jorth  America,  and  were  adopted  in  other  coun- 
tries. 

His  other  meteorological  observations  are  also 
Valuable,  and  are  proofs  of  industry,  as  well  as  gen- 
ius. He  could  readily  turn  his  mind  to  any  thing 
Useful,  and  delighted  to  make  his  philosophical  ex<* 
perinients  subservient  to  the  convenience  of  com- 
mon life  ;  in  which  he  is  as  much  to  be  praised^  as 
for  enlarging  the  bounds  of  science. 

Am  org  the  writers  upon  politicks,  and  the  per- 
sons  V  ho  have  acted  an  important  part  in  the  revo- 
Imion  oi  their  country,  Dr.  Franklin  has  be  en  high- 
ly esteemed,  and  conspicuously  distinguished.  He 
preferred  the  busy  tumult  of  the  world  to  the  *'  calm 
delightsofmiid  philosophy."  In  1747, he  was  chos- 
en representative  for  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  In 
that  assembly  he  exerted  all  his  influence  in  oppo- 
sing the  proprietary  claims.  In  1754,  he  proposed 
a  plan  lor  the  general  government  of  the  coloniesg 
which  did  not  meet  the  approbation  of  the  British 
court ;  nor  of  several  eminent  characters  on  this 
side  the  /-tlantick.  In  1757,  he  was  sent  to  En- 
gland as  agent  for  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
he  succeeded  in  his  application  to  the  British  court, 
that  the  proprietary  lands  should  be  taxed  for  the 
publick  service.  He  was  also  employed  in  the  a- 
gency  for  Jersey,  Maryland  and  Georgia,     At  this 


F  R  A  5^0S 

time  he  was  elected  a  fellow  of  the  royal  society  of 
London  ;  and  received  the  degree  of  L  L.  D.  from 
several  universities.  He  was  a  member  of  all  the 
celebrated  academies  of  arts  and  sciences  in  Europe, 
and  was  also  elected  president  of  the  philosophical 
society  in  Philadelphia,  la  1762,  he  returned  home, 
and  received  thanks  for  his  services  ;  but  was  again 
appointed  agent.  We  read  of  his  conversation  with 
Mr.  Gienville  concerning  the  stamp  act,  and  his 
exertions  to  prevent  any  act  passing  in  the  parlia- 
ment of  Great  Britain  to  raise  a  revenue  from  the 
colonies.  When  the  stamp  act  was  repealed,  he 
had  more  leisure  than  he  had  enjoyed  for  many 
years,  and  spent  the  time  in  travelling  over  several 
parts  of  hurope. 

In  1774,  Dr.  F.  was  employed  by  the  house 
of  Massachusetts  to  preseiit  a  petition,  that  the 
governour  and  lieutenant  governour  might  be  re- 
moved from  their  offices.  According  to  his  own 
account,  the  privy  council  were  not  disposed  to  do 
justice  to  himself,  or  his  cause.  Mr.  Bollan,  who 
was  agent  for  the  council  of  Massachusetts,  and  had 
been  a  lawyer  of  eminence  in  this  country,  desired 
to  be  heard  ;  but  was  silenced  because  he  was  only 
agent  for  the  branch  which  did  not  join  in  this  pros- 
ecution. Finding  that  Mr.  Wedderburne  appear- 
ed for  the  governours,  he  desired  to  have  council ; 
but  at  the  same  time,  was  willing  their  lordships 
should  give  a  decision  merely  from  the  papers  with* 
out  having  a  word  said  upon  the  subject.  The  bu* 
siness  was  deferred  till  another  day,  and  he  then  ap- 
peared with  Mr.  Dunning  and  Mr.  Lee,  who  did 
all  in  their  power  to  support  the  petition.  Mr. 
Wedderburne  on  the  other  hand,  threw  every  kind 
of  abuse  on  the  house  of  representatives,  and  their 
agent,  mingled  with  encomiums  upon  their  gov- 
ernours. "  The  favourite  part  of  his  invective," 
says  the  Dr.  *'  was  levelled  at  your  agent,  who 
stood  there  the  butt  of  his  ribaldry  and  invective 
for  near  an  hour,  not  a  single  lord  adverting  to  the 


.206  F  R  A 

indecency  or  impropriety  of  treating  a  publick  mes- 
senger in  so  ignominious  a  manner,  who  was  only 
as  the  person  delivering  your  petition,  with  the  con- 
sideration of  which  no  part  of  his  conduct  had  any 
concern."*  After  his  return  to  America,  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  Congress.  In  this  body  he 
did  not  make  any  great  figure.  But  he  was  sent  in 
a  publick  capacity  to  France,  and  signed  two 
treaties  of  alliance  and  commerce  with  that  nation, 
one  dated  Jan.  30,  the  other  Feb.  6,  1778. 

He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  who  signed  the 
provisional  articles  of  peace  in  1783.  It  was  fortu- 
nate for  New  F.n gland  that  Mr.  Adams  and  Mr. 
Jay  were  with  him.  Their  talents  as  statesmen, 
and  their  particular  services  at  this  time  saved  these 
parts  of  the  union  from  poverty  and  humiliation. 
This,  the  best  friends  of  the  old  sage  were  obliged 
to  acknowledge. 

In  1785,  Dr.  Franklin  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
and  was  appointed  president  of  the  supreme  execu- 
tive council. 

He  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  convention 
who  framed  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 
He  mingled  not  in  the  debates,  but  made  a  speech 
at  the  close  of  the  business,  which  did  not  discover 
his  talents  as  a  statesman.  It  was  time  for  him  to 
retire  from  publick  business.  He  had  arrived  at  an 
age  when  human  infirmities  increase,  and  the  ''  ve- 
ry strength  is  labour  and  sorrow."  He  died,  April, 
1790,  aged  84. 

Dr.  Franklin  never  professed  any  religion.  His 
friend  president  Stiles  pressed  him  upon  the  sub- 
ject, and  wished  to  have  him  say  he  was  a  believer 
in  Christianity,  but  the  philosopher  evaded  the  ques- 
tion. He  said  that  he  had  been  led  to  think  favoura- 
bly of  the  sentiments  of  Dr.  Kippis,  Dr.  Priestley, 

*  Letter  to  Thomas  Cushinj^,  esq.  speaker  of  the  bouse  of  re- 
presentatives, Feb.  15,  1774,  in  Historical  Collections,  volume  iir. 
See  also  Dr.  Priestley's  letter,  giving  a  particular  account  of 
Wedderburne's  speech,  of  which  he  was  a  hearer. 


F  U  L  20T 

and  others,  with  whom  he  had  been  acquainted  in 
England.  Their  opinions  did  not  bear  the  puritan- 
ick  stamp,  and  he  doubtless  respected  them  more 
as  philosophers  than  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

Dr.  Franklin  never  published  any  large  w^ork ; 
but  his  various  tracts  make  up  three  large  octavo 
volumes.  It  is  said  that  in  society  he  was  senten- 
tious, but  not  fluent ;  a  listener  rather  than  a  talker; 
an  informing  rather  than  a  pleasing  companion  ;  im- 
patient of  interruption.  He  often  mentioned  the 
custom  of  the  Indians,  who  remain  sometime 
silent  before  they  give  an  answer  to  a  question  they 
have  heard  attentively,  unlike  some  of  the  politest 
societies  in  Europe  where  a  sentence  can  scarcely 
be  finished  without  interruption. 

He  made  certain  bequests  and  donations  by  his 
will,  which  discover  his  peculiarity  of  temper,  and 
a  mind  swayed  by  vanity,  as  well  as  under  the  in* 
fluence  of  minute  calculation. 

His  epitaph  is  an  instance  of  oddity,  but  is  inge- 
nious.    He  made  it  to  be  put  on  his  tombstone. 

The  body  of 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN,  printer, 

(like  the  cover  of  an  old  book, 

its  contents  torn  out, 

and  stript  of  its  lettering  and  gilding) 

lies  here  food  for  worn-.s  : 

yet  the  work  itself  shall  not  be  lost, 

Idiit  will,  as  he  believed,  appear  once  more 

in  a  new 

and  more  beautiful  edition, 

corrected  and  amended 

by 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Fuller  Samuel,  one  of  the  worthies  who  came 
ever  to  New  Plymouth.  He  was  chosen  deacon  of 
Mr.  Robinson's  church,  with  Mr.  Carver,  who  was 
afterwards  governour  of  the  plantation.  As  it  was 
determined  that  the  pastor  should  remain  at  Ley- 
den,  they  sent  Mr.  Brewster,  their  elder,  w^ith  the 
two  deacons,  who  were  qualified  to  instruct  the 
people,  and  lead  in  the  publick  services.    Mr.  Ful- 


208  i^'  U  L 

ler  sailed  from  Holland,  July  21,  1620.  He  took  a 
servant  boy  >vith  him,  who  died  on  the  passage, 
Kov.  6,  a  few  days  before  they  made  the  land  of 
Cape  Cod.  When  gov.  Carver  died,  they  chose 
another  deacon,  but  Mr.  Fuller's  services  were  in 
very  special  demand,  both  for  the  souls  and  bodies 
of  the  people.  Beside  his  duty  in  the  church,  which 
he  was  active  in  performing,  he  was  eminently  use- 
ful as  a  surgeon  and  physician.  Nor  did  he  con- 
fine his  benevolent  offices  to  the  inhabitants  of  New 
Plymouth,  and  to  the  aboriginals  of  the  country,  but 
readily  gave  his  assistance  to  the  people  of  Naum- 
keake  after  Mr.  Endicot  came  to  that  part  of  IMassa- 
ehusetts  Bay.  Several  of  the  people  died  of*'  scur- 
vy s  and  other  distempers,"  and  many  were  subject- 
ed to  diseases  arising  from  unwholsome  diet  and 
want  of  proper  accommodations.  Having  no  phy- 
sician among  tliem selves,  it  was  happy  for  those 
planters  that  Plymouth  could  supply  them  with  one 
so  able  as  Mr.  Fuller,  who  visited  them  at  the  re- 
quest of  Mr.  Endicot,  and  met  with  great  success 
in  his  practice.  According  to  Mr.  Prince,  he  went 
there  more  than  once.  He  says,  '^  gov.  Bradford  and 
Mr.  Morton  from  him.  seem  to  mistake  in  blend- 
ing the  several  sicknesses  at  Naumkeake  of  1628  and 
1629  together,  and  writing  as  if  Dr.  Fuller  first 
went  thither  to  help  in  the  sickness  introduced 
there  by  the  ships  in  1629  ;  whereas  by  gov.  Endi- 
cot's  letter  of  May  11,  1629,  it  appears  that  Dr. 
Fuller  had  been  there  to  help  them,  which  was 
above  a  month  before  the  ship  arrived  in  29." 

When  he  returned  from  Salem  to  Plymouth  Mr. 
Endicot  wrote  to  gov.  Bradford  a  letter  of  thanks, 
speaking  highly  in  praise  of  the  physician,  and  also 
his  hearty  concurrence  with  their  church  in  its  form 
and  discipline.  From  which  it  is  evident  that  the 
conversation  of  Dr.  Fuller  had  some  effect  upon  his 
religious  opinions,  for  there  was  a  difference  of  sen- 
timent  before  this  interview,  and  a  jealousy  lest  the 
Plymouth  church  should  exercise  a  jurisdiction 
over  the  church  in  Salem. 


GAG  209 

Gage  ThomaSj  governour  of  Massachusetts, 
1774  and  1775,  was  brother  of  lord  viscount  Gage, 
and  an  officer  of  distinction  in  the  British  army. 
He  came  into  America  as  a  lieut.  col.  of  Braddock's 
forces,  and  when  that  unfortunate  general  was 
wounded,  he, with  another  officer, carried  him  off  the 
field.  He  acquired  some  credit  by  this  action,  be- 
cause the  confusion  w^as  so  general,  and  the  flight 
so  disorderly,  that  the  body  might  have  been  man- 
gled by  a  savage  enemy,  or  exposed  to  every  kind 
of  indignity.  In  1758,  Mr.  Gage  had  a  colonel's 
commission.  In  1760,  after  the  reduction  of  Can- 
ada,  he  was  governour  of  Montreal;  and  the  ten 
succeeding  years  was  commander  in  chief  of  the 
British  forces  in  North  America.  The  greater  part 
of  the  time,  he  resided  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
He  paid  a  visit  to  Boston  in  the  autumn  of  1768, 
where  the  14th  and  29th  regiments  were  stationed, 
with  a  view  to  know  the  state  of  the  town,  and  to 
see  that  proper  accommodations  were  made  for  the 
troops.  A  handsome  address  from  the  members  of  the 
council  was  presented  to  him,  in  which  they  say, 
**  it  affords  a  general  satisfaction  that  your  excellen- 
cy has  visited  the  province.  Your  own  inquiries 
will  satisfy  you,  that  though  there  have  been  disor- 
ders in  the  town  of  Boston,  some  of  them  did  not 
merit  notice,  and  that  such  as  did,  have  been  mag- 
nified beyond  the  truth."  To  this  address  he  gave 
a  polite  answer ;  but  at  the  same  time  wTote  to  the 
ministry  a  bitter  invective  against  the  council,  the 
people  of  the  town,  and  province.  His  answer  to 
the  address  of  the  council  is  dated  Oct.  28 ;  the  let- 
ter to  the  ministry,  Oct.  30.  This  letter  is  totally 
destitute  of  that  candour,  which  the  people  had  al- 
ways connected  with  the  general's  character.  At  the 
date  of  it,  he  had  been  in  town  about  a  fortnight ; 
at  which  time  from  his  own  knowledge  and  obser- 
vation, he  could  not  gain  such  an  acquaintance  with 
the  character  and  disposition  of  the  council,  and  of 
the  people  in  general,  as  to  authorize  him  to  say  so 

p  d 


210  GAG 

many  harsh  things  concerning  thtni,  which  at  tiie 
same  time  are  as  unjust,  as  they  are  rash  and  pre- 
cipitate. The  similitude  of  sentiment  in  this  letter, 
and  the  letters  of  Bernard,  leaves  no  room  to  doubt 
whence  the  matter  of  it  was  furnished. 

Such  are  the  remarks  made  by  our  whig  politi- 
cians on  the  general's  letter.*  It  was  also  observed 
that,  as  the  general  thought  proper  to  step  out  of 
his  line,  and  give  characters,  a  regard  for  the  pub- 
iick,  and  especially  for  himself  should  have  induced 
him  to  give  such  as  were  consistent  with  truth. 

In  the  year  1774,  it  was  his  fortune  to  succeed 
Hutchinson  in  the  government  of  Massachusetts  ; 
and  to  command  the  troops  quartered  in  the  pro- 
vince,  to  force  the  people  into  a  compliance  with 
unconstitutional  and  oppressive  acts  of  parliament. 
If  there  had  been  no  prejudice  imbibed  against 
the  man,  they  could  not  but  feel  resentment  at 
having  a  governour  appointed  with  such  authori- 
ty over  them.  It  is  no  wonder  therefore  that  their 
opposition  to  his  administration  was  so  fixed  and 
violent.  His  polite  address  and  easy  manners, 
however,  gained  him  friends  ;  and  it  was  fre- 
quently observed  that  in  good  times,  he  would 
have  made  a  worthy  governour.  This  might  be 
the  case  ;  but  the  opinion  could  not  be  formed  by 
observations  upon  his  managing  the  affairs  of  the 
province.  He  acted  with  the  advice  of  men  who 
wished  to  deprive  the  people  of  all  their  civil  privi- 
leges, and  to  make  the  governour  of  Massachusetts 
as  despotick  as  the  Dey  of  one  oftheBarbary  pow- 
ers. The  port  bill  was  under  consideration  of  the 
Boston  town  meeting  when  governour  Gage  arriv- 
ed; and  it  was  more  particularly  the  province  of  the 
admiral  to  put  this  into  execution. 

But  what  were  the  prominent  traits  of  his  admin- 
istration ? 

♦Letters  of  gov.  Bernard,  gen.  Gage,  his  majesty's  council  to 
the  earl  of  Hillsborough,  with  an  appendix,  containing  diverse 
proceedings  referred  to  in  said  letters. 


GAG  21i 

'<  He   negatived  thirteen  provincial  counsellors 
chosen  at  the  first  election  after  his  arrival. 

''  Adjourned  the  court  to  Salem,  that  he  might 
reduce  them  more  easily  to  his  arbitrary  measures. 

''  He  summoned  the  mandamus  council  to  their 
seats,  in  violation  of  the  provincial  charters. 

*'  He  attempted  to  put  in  execution  an  act  of 
parliament  "for  regulating  the  government," u^hich 
entirely  altered  the  charter  constitution  of  the  pro- 
vince ;  and  another  act,  authorizing  the  governour, 
in  case  any  person  is  indicted  for  murder  or  any 
other  capital  offence  in  aid  of  magistracy,  Sec.  to 
send  such  person  (if  the  governour  approves  not  of 
their  having  a  trial  in  Boston)  to  any  other  colony, 
or  to  Great  Britain  to  be  tried. 

'*  He  issued  a  proclamation,  forbidding  any  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  province  from  signing  a  paper 
called  a  solemn  league  and  covenant  for  the  pur- 
poses of  non-importation  and  non- consumption  of 
British  goods. 

*•  He  sent  troops  to  seize  the  provhicial  powder 
in  the  magazine  at  Charlestown. 

**  He  tried  to  prevent  the  Essex  county  meeting 
at  Salem  ;  and  ordered  troops  from  the  village  to  as- 
sist in  dispersing  said  meeting. 

''  He  broke  up  the  ground  on  Boston  neck,  for 
entrenchments  and  fortifications,  which  was  an  im- 
pediment to  passengers  going  to,  and  coming  from, 
the  country  towns. 

*'  By  a  proclamation  he  discharged  the  members 
of  the  general  court,  to  deprive  the  province  of  a 
representative  body. 

'*  He  sent  troops  to  Marshfield  and  Salem  ;  and 
attempted  to  seize  cannon  and  other  military  stores. 

*'  The  several  avenues  to  the  town  of  Boston  he 
ordered  to  be  guarded  by  centinels  from  his  troops, 
and  reduced  the  town  to  the  state  of  a  garrison. 

*•  He  altered  the  terms  of  agreement  with  the 
town,  as  a  condition  of  the  citizens  removing  out  of 
it,  after  they  had  complied  with  their  part  of  the 


212  GAY 

condition  ;  and  detained  articles  he  had  previously 
promised  should  be  removed  by  the  owners,  and 
caused  many  impediments  in  the  manner  of  their 
removal. 

*'  In  the  month  of  June,  1775,  he  proclaimed 
Massachusetts  to  be  in  a  state  of  rebellion,  the 
provincial  congress  having  in  the  month  preceding 
renounced  the  government  of  gen.  Gage.  In  his 
proclamation  he  proscribed  the  patriots,  S.  Adams 
and  Hancock. 

*'  Under  his  orders  Bunker  Hill  battle  was  fought, 
and  Charlestown  burnt,"  &c.  kc. 

All  these  transactions  took  place  during  his  short 
administration. 

Having  obtained  leave  to  depart  from  America, 
he  sailed  from  Boston,  October  10th,  1775,  and 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  retirement. 
We  hear  of  no  peculiar  honours  conferred  upon 
him  in  his  own  country  ;  and  here,  if  men  did  not 
feel  an  abhorrence  of  his  conduct,  it  was  because 
they  viewed  him  with  contempt. 

Gay  Ebenezer,  D.  D.  pastor  of  the  first  church 
in  Hingham,  was  born  in  Dedham,  of  parents,  who 
descended  from  the  first  settlers  of  that  ancient 
town.  He  made  early  progress  in  literature,  and 
Avas  sent  from  the  town  school  to  Harvard  College, 
where  he  was  graduated,  1714.  He  was  ordained  over 
the  church  in  Hingham,  1718.  When  he  was  a  young 
man  he  obtained  the  notice  of  gov.  Burnet,  who 
was  a  good  judge  of  characters,  and  particularly 
fond  of  men  of  letters.  It  is  a  saying  of  his,  handed 
down  from  the  last  generation >  that  among  the  cler- 
gy of  Massachusetts,  Mr.  Bradstreet  of  Charles- 
town,  and  Mr.  Gay  of  Hingham  had  the  most  eru- 
dition. One  of  these  left  no  publication  as  evidence 
of  his  talents.  The  other  printed  many  sermons, 
chiefly  occasional.  During  the  long  life  he  passed 
on  earth,  very  few  works,  except  sermons,  were 
emitted  from  the  presses  of  New  England.  What 
encouragement  could  be  given  to  talents  in  a  coun- 


GAY  213 

try  just  rising  into  notice  ?    Many  a  flower  has 
dropped   its   leaves   in   this  American   wilderness, 
which,   transplanted  in  some   fair    garden,  would 
have    grown    and   flourished.      The  clergy  of  this 
country    were    formerly    very    dependent,    though 
treated  with  great  respect  by  their  people.      They 
had  to  labour  hard  in  the  fields  of  this  world,   as 
well  as  to  do  their  duty  to  God's  husbandry,  that 
souls  *'  might  not  wither,  but  have  their  fruit  in  love 
and  good  works."  They  were,  however,  happy  and 
contented  with  their  lot :  though  not  in  easy  or  af- 
fluent circumstances  they   were  above    want.      If 
they  had  a  thirst  for  knowledge,  they  suffered,  be- 
cause few  men  had  libraries,  nor  were  many  books 
imported  upon  any  subject  but  law,   physick  and 
divinity.     If  no  professional  men  were  in  their  par- 
ishes, they  could  not  gain  much  information.     Dr. 
Gay  was  as  well  situated  as  most  of  his  brethren  ; 
and  he  had  great  resources  in  his  own  mind.  Among 
his  parochial  connections  were  several  gentlemen  in 
conspicuous  stations,  and  capable  of  improving  the 
minds  of  each  other.     When  he  was  85  years  old, 
he  preached  upon  this  text,  Joshua,  xiv.  10,  mark- 
ing the  number  of  his  years — ''  I  am  this  day  four- 
score and  five  years  old."     He  says,   sixty  three 
years  have   I  spent  in  the  work  of  the   ministry 
among  you.    One  hundred  and  forty  six  years  ago, 
your  forefathers  came  with  their  pastor  and  settled 
in  this  place.  I  am  the  third  in  the  pastorate  of  this 
church  which  has  not  been  two  years  vacant.   Scarce 
any  parish  but  hath  had  more  in  the  office  in  the 
same  space  of  time.  The  people  of  this  town  have  been 
steady  to  their  own  ministers  living  to  old  age  ; 
have  not  been  given  to  change,   nor  with  itching 
ears  have  heaped  to  themselves  teachers.      I  bless 
God  who  disposed  my  lot  among  a  people,   wath 
whom    I   have  lived   in   great  peace  eleven  years 
longer  than  either  of  my  predecessors.    1  have  only 
to  wish  that  my  labours   had  been  as  profitable  as 
they  have  been  acceptable  to  them.  I  retain  a  grate- 


214  GAY 

ful  sense  of  the  kindnesses  (injuries  I  remember 
none)  I  have  received  from  them.  While  I  have 
reaped  of  their  carnal  things  to  my  comfortable 
subsistence,  it  has  been  my  great  concern  to  sow 
unto  them  spiritual  things,  which  might  spring 
up  in  a  harvest  of  eternal  blessings.  That  their  af- 
fections  to  me,  as  their  pastor,  have  continued  from 
fathers  to  children, and  children's  children,  hath  been 
thankfully  observed  by  me  ;  and  should  have  been 
improved  as  an  advantage  and  incentive  to  do  them 
(in  return  of  love  for  love)  all  possible  good.  It  is 
but  little  I  can  do  now  in  the  work  to  which  I  am 
kept  up  so  late  in  the  evening  of  my  days,"  &c. 
This  sermon  is  styled  the  "  old  man's  calender  ;" 
and  is  a  very  interesting  discourse,  though  not 
equal  in  composition  to  those  he  printed  in  young- 
er life.  '•  His  election  sermon,  1745  ;"  the  sermon 
"  before  the  convention  of  ministers,  1746,"  and  at 
*'  Dudleian  lecture,  1759."  have  been  much  cele- 
brated. The  funeral  sermon  "  upon  Mr.  Hancock," 
father  of  the  late  governour,  and  two  upon  "the 
death  of  Dr.  May  hew"  are  among  the  best  occa- 
sional discourses. 

Mr.  Gay  received  his  diploma  of  doctor  in  divin- 
ity, in  1785,  from  the  university  where  he  had  his 
education. 

This  great  and  good  man  died.  Sabbath  day, 
March  8,  1787,  in  the  91st  year  of  his  age,  and 
69th  of  his  ministry.  The  vigour  of  his  mind  con- 
tinued to  this  remarkable  age.  He  was  preparing 
to  go  through  the  labours  of  the  day  when  he  died. 
''  His  indulgent  Lord,  as  it  has  been  well  expressed, 
*'  when  he  was  about  to  enter  upon  the  service  of  his 
sanctuary  here  below,  called  him  to  the  more  sub- 
lime enjoyments  of  his  temple  above."* 

•  His  publications,  beside  those  menlioned  above  were,  a  ser- 
mon at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Joseph  Green,  May  12,  1725  ; 
there  was  a  high  encomium  upon  this  sermon  by  Mr.  Foxcroft  of 
Boston;  a  sermon  upon  the  arrival  of  gov.  Belcher,  1730  ;  a 
sermon  at  the  ordination  of  Ebenezer  Gay,  jun.  at  buffield^  1742  ; 


GEE  215 

Gee  Joshua,  rev.  minister  of  the  second  church 
in  Boston,  was  colleague  with  the  famous  Cotton 
Mather.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  the  son  of  a  rep- 
utable tradesman,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege, A.  D.  1717;  ordained  in  November,  1723. 
His  talents  were  not  of  the  popular  kind,  though  he 
was  fervent  in  spirit,  zealous  in  promoting  the  great 
revival  of  religion  in  1742,  3.  His  genius  was  pro- 
found; his  learning  considerable ;  his  theological  at- 
tainments very  superiour.  His  sermons  are  well 
composed  and  argumentative,  and  they,  who  were 
intimate  with  him,  speak  of  his  talents  for  conversa- 
tion as  very  uncommon.  He  indulged  a  kind  of 
literary  indolence,  and  preferred  to  converse  rather 
than  to  write.  Yet  he  never  delivered  in  the  pul- 
pit any  thing  like  an  extemporaneous  address  ;  and 
was  reluctant  to  print  his  discourses,  when  urged, 
because  he  must  finish  them  with  some  labour.  He 
was  bigotted  in  his  opinions,  which  were  in  favour 
of  high  supralapsarian  doctrines.  He  was  some- 
what bitter  in  controversy.  This  appears  by  his 
attack  upon  the  convention,  which  gave  a  testimony 
against  the  errors  prevailing  in  1745,  and  the  spirit 
w^hich  had  been  too  much  encouraged,  when  itinerant 
preachers  and  fanatical  priests  disturbed  the  church- 
es. His  passions  led  him  to  imprudence  in  his 
ministerial  conduct.       During  his  ministry  a  divi- 

ofDr.  Mayhewat  Boston,  1747;  Mr.  Derby  at  Scituate,  1751  ; 
Mr  Carpenter  at  Swanzey,  1753;  Mr.  Hawson  at  Yarmouth, 
175  5  ;  Mr.  Bunker  Gay  at  Hinsdale,  1763  ;  Mr.  Gannet,  Cum- 
berland, Nova  Scotia,  1768;  a  servnon  at  the  annual  thanksgiv- 
m^.  1770. 

In  a  note  of  Dr.  Shute's  sermon  at  his  funeral,  is  an  account  of 
the  ministers  of  Hingham, — Rev.  Peter  Hobart,  who  came  from 
England  with  his  church,  was  the  first  m'lnister,  and  settled, 
1635,  and  died,  January  20,  1679.  Rev.  John  Norton,  ordained, 
Nov  27,  1678  ;  died,  October  3,  1716.  Vacant  one  year  and  six 
months.  (During  this  time  the  church  invited  Mr.  Samuel  Fiske 
to  be  their  pastor,  who  gave  an  answer  in  the  negative,  expecting 
then  to  be  settled  in  the  New  South,  Boston.)  June  1  1,  1718, 
Dr.  Gay  was  ordained.  Three  ministers  in  152  years,  and 
through  the  whole  of  the  time,  vacant  hardly  a  year  and  six 
months. 


216  GIB 

sion  was  made  in  the  church  :  nearly  one  half  sep 
arated  with  his  colleague.  (Mr.  Samuel  Mather,) 
and  built  a  church  in  the  neighbourhocxl,  where  the 
latter  continued  till  his  death  in  1785.  Mr.  Gee 
died,  1748,  May  22,  having  been  consumptive  seve- 
ral years. 

His  printed  discourses  were,  a  small  volume  up- 
on Luke  xiii.  24  ;  a  funeral  sermon  on  Dr.  C.  Ma- 
ther, &c.  He  also  printed  observations  on  the  con- 
vention of  ministers,  beside  several  political  pam- 
phlets. 

Mr.  Gee  married  the  daughter  of  the  rev.  Mr. 
Rogers  of  Portsmouth.  She  was  a  most  amiable 
and  accomplished  woman.  She  died,  1730,  aged 
29.  A  beautiful  sermon  was  printed  upon  the  oc- 
casion by  rev.  P.  Thacher,  the  only  discourse  that 
great  man  ever  published,  except  the  election  ser- 
mon, 1726.* 

Gibbons  Edward,  major  general,  was  one  of 
the  first  planters  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  He  was 
one  of  those  enterprising  young  men,  who  settled 
at  Mount  Wollaston,  but  whether  he  joined  with 
Morton  in  all  his  mad  pranks,  we  are  not  able  to 
say.  Most  probably  he  went  to  Salem  for  the  sake 
of  better  company.  He  was  at  the  ordination  of 
Mr.  Higginson,  and  it  affected  him  so  much  to  see 
a  church  formed,  and  a  whole  congregation  wor- 
shipping God  in  the  beauties  of  holiness,  that  he  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  join  with  them.  They  chose  to 
have  some  evidence  of  his  sincerity, but  encouraged 
his  good   intentions.     He   went  afterwards  to  Bos* 

•  This  biographical  tikelch  of  Mr.  Gee  was  written  before  Dr. 
Chauncy's  list  of  famous  men  was  published.  The  Dr.  shows 
much  candour  to  a  man  who  in  his  writings  and  conversation  en- 
deavoured to  injure  his  character.and  was  bitter  against  every  one 
who  had  liberal  views  of  Christianity.  One  observation  ought 
perhaps  to  !)e  mentioned,  w  hich  the  late  Dr.  Chauncy  often  made, 
and  which  is  to  be  found  in  a  letter  to  an  eminent  correspondent, 
*'  that  it  was  happy  Mr.  Gee  had  an  indolent  turn  ;  for  with  such 
fiery  zeal  and  such  talents,  he  would  have  made  contiiuial  conten- 
tion in  the  churches. 


GIB  217 

ton,  joined  Mr.  Wilson's  church,  and  became  one 
of  the  most  useful,  active  and  worthy  men  in  the 
colony.  In  the  year  1644,  when  the  militia  was  or- 
ganized, he  was  chosen  commanding  officer  of  the 
regiment  in  Suffolk.  There  was  a  regiment  for 
every  county ;  one  in  Suffolk,  one  in  Middlesex,  one 
in  Essex,  and  one  in  Northfolk,  which  included  the 
towns  of  Haverhill,  Salisbury,  Hampton,  &c.  on  the 
banks  of  the  Merrimack,  or  beyond  it.  The  chief 
officer  instead  of  having  a  colonel's  commission,  was 
styled  only  sergeant  major.  A  major  general,  was 
appointed  over  the  whole,  as  related  in  the  life  of 
Mr.  Dudley,  who  was  the  first  in  the  office ;  then,  Mr. 
Endicot,  and  the  third  was  major  Gibbons.  In 
Johnson's  annals  of  Massachusetts  for  1644,  after 
mentioning  the  several  regiments,  over  each  of 
which  ''  the  commander  is  only  a  sergeant  major," 
the  first  chosen  to  the  office,  says  he,  was  major 
Gibbons,  now  major  general,  a  man  of  resolute 
spirit,  bold  as  a  lion,  being  wholly  tutored  up  in 
New  England  discipline,  very  generous  and  for- 
ward to  promote  all  military  matters,  his  forts  are 
well  contrived,  and  batteries  strong  and  in  good  re- 
pair, &c.* 

•  Johnson's  anhals,  are  continued  to  the  year  1 652.  The  book 
is  called  "wonder  working  providences  of Sion's  Saviour  in  New 
England."  Mr.  Prince  discovered  their  author  to  be  Mr.  John- 
son of  Woburn,  The  book  contains  much  valuable  information  of 
the  early  settlement  of  Massaciiusetts.  And  he  is  very  particu- 
lar in  narrating  the  organization  of  the  militia  in  1644.  As  the 
book  is  scarce  and  curious  it  may  gratify  some  persons  to  know, 
who  were  officers  in  the  first  regiment  in  Suffolk,  wiiich  shall  be 
given  in  his  style  and  manner. 

After  speaking  of  major  Gibbons  having  his  forts  in  good  re- 
pair, liis  artillery  well  mounted  and  cleanly  kept,  half  cannon,  cul- 
verins  and  sakers,  as  also  field  pieces  of  brass  very  ready  for  ser- 
vice, he  says,  "  his  own  companyjed  by  capt  lieut.Sarag,  are  very- 
complete  in  arms,  and  many  of  them  disciplined  in  the  military 
garden,  beside  their  ordinary  trainings  ;  the  captains  under  him 
are  capt.  Humphry  Atherton  of  the  band  in  Dorclicster;  a  ver*y 
lively  courageous  man,  with  his  stout  and  valiant  lieut.  Clap, 
strong  for  the  truth  ;  of  the  band  of  Roxbury,  capt.  Pritchard  and 
ensign  Johnscfn  ;  of  the  band  of  Weymouth,  capt.  Perkins,  and 
E  e 


218  GIB 

Gen.  Gibbons  was  not  only  high  in  military  rank, 
but  was  also  one  of  the  assistants  ;  to  which  place 
he  was  elected  in  1644,  and  continued  many  years. 
In  1645,  he  was  sent,  at  the  head  of  the  New  Eng- 
land forces,  against  the  sons  of  Canonicus,  who  did 
not  inherit  their  father's  prudence,  but  were  op- 
pressive and  arbitrary,  and  causedcontentions  among 
the  neighbouring  tribes.  They  were,  however,  so 
frightened  at  the  preparations  of  war,  when  they 
found  the  white  people  in  hostile  array,  that  they 
sent  a  certain  number  of  their  chief  nobility  to  the 
commissioners  of  the  united  colonies,  who  were 
then  sitting  at  Boston,  to  treat  concerning  a  peace. 
The  commissioners  took  advantage  of  their  situa- 
tion, and  made  them  pay  a  part  of  the  charges  which 
such  preparations  had  occasioned  ;  and  to  give  four 
of  their  sons,  for  hostages,  till  they  had  paid  what 
was  demanded. 

Major  general  Gibbons  was  in  the  office  till  he 
died,  and  was  succeeded  by  major  Sedgwick.  We 
would  observe,  however,  that  this  high  command- 
er was  chosen  annually  by  the  freemen,  while  the 
other  militaiy  oincers  were  chosen  for  life.      The 

his  proper  and  active  lieut.  Torrey  ;  of  the  band  of  Hingham, 
capt.  Allen  ;  of  the  bund  of  Dedham,  capt.  Eleazer  Lusher,  one 
of  a  ninnible  and  active  spirit,  strongly  affected  to  the  ways  of 
truth  :  of  the  band  of  iirainrree,  capt.  William  Tyng  ;  these  be- 
lone;  to  the  regiment  of  Sufibik..'*  He  then  goes  on  to  describe 
the  regiment  of  Essex  under  sergeant  major  Robert  Sedgwick, 
stout  and  active  in  all  the  feats  of  war,  nursed  up  in  London's  ar- 
tillery, and  furtliered  with  sixteen  years  experience  in  New  Eng- 
land's exact  theory,  besides  the  help  of  a  very  good  head  piece, 
being  a  frequent  instructor  of  our  artillery  men,  &c«  He  says 
likewise,  "  that  surveyor  general  Johnson,  one  well  qualified  for 
the  work,  overlooked  the  whole,  and  often  reminded  the  general 
court  to  keep  a  good  supply  ;'*  that  several  persons  contributed 
largely  to  provide  ammunition  ;  the  rev.  Dr.  Wilson  gave  gene- 
rously a  thousand  pounds,  Sec.  that  a  castle  was  built  on  an  island 
upon  a  passage  into  the  bay  :  as  the  country  had  no  lime,  but 
what  is  burnt  with  oyster  shells,  it  fell  to  decay  a  few  years  after. 
It  was  built  again  at  the  expence  of  the  six  towns,  the  rest  of  the 
country  furnishing  a  small  matter  towards  it.  The  first  com? 
mander  was  one  capt.  Davenport,  &c. 


GOO  219 

people  assembled  once  a  year  to  elect  a  goveinour, 
lieut.  governour,  assistants  and  major  general.  Ve- 
ry few  alterations  were  made  in  their  arrangements 
till  officers  were  appointed  by  the  crown,  and  the 
old  charter  taken  away. 

GooKiN  Daniel,  major  general,  was  at  first  a 
planter  in  Virginia,  but  preferred  to  spend  his  days 
in  New  England,  where  he  found  a  people  more 
congenial  to  his  views,  principles  and  manners. 
He  became  a  freeman  of  Massachusetts  in  1644, 
and  had  a  captain's  commission  in  the  regiment  of 
Middlesex.  "  He  had  formerly  been  a  Kentish 
soldier,  and  a  very  forward  man  to  advance  marshal 
discipline,  and  withal  the  truths  of  Christ."* 

In  1652,  he  was  chosen  assistant,  and  was  as 
ready  to  execute  justice  ai'id  maintain  peace  in  the 
province,  as  to  fight  the  enemies  of  his  country. 
In  1656,  he  left  New  England,  and  risitcd  Crom- 
well's court,  who  employed  him  to  persuade  the  in- 
habitants of  Masssachusetts  to  remove  and  settle 
Jamaica,  which  had  lately  been  taken  from  the 
crown  of  Spain.  In  this  he  met  with  no  success. 
In  1662,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  licensers  of  the 
printing  press  in  Cambridge.  He  was  of  the  high 
republican  party  in  politicks,  and  stood  firm  to  the 
old  charter,  unwilling  to  yield  the  rights  and  liber- 
ties  of  the  people, when  they  were  required  to  do  it, 
by  the  arbitrary  measures  of  king  Charles  II.  He 
would  rather  face  the  storm  and  risque  every  dan- 
ger. He  gave  his  reasons  in  writing,  which  were 
lodged  in  the  publick  records.  Mr.  Gookin  was  as 
conspicuous  for  his  piety  as  his  morals.  He  set  a 
high  value  upon  the  religious  freedom,  which  the 
first  settlers  enjoyed,  and  for  which  they  had  left 
their  own  country  to  dwell  in  an  American  wilder- 
ness. Perhaps,  he  was  too  rigid  in  his  notions ; 
perhaps,  his  religious  and  political  sentiments  were 
tinctured  with  party  spirit ;  but  his  lively  and  ac- 
tive turn  stimulated  him  to  noble  and  generous  ac- 

*  Johnson. 


220  GOO 

tions.  We  ought  always  to  distinguish  between 
enthusiasm  and  tanaticism.  The  one  will  stimulate 
a  warrior  to  destroy  villages,  and  even  the  lives  of 
men  ;  the  other  will  rouse  the  patriot,  and  excite 
the  philanthropist  or  christian  to  do  benevolent  ac- 
tions. Such  a  zealous,  such  an  upright  magistrate 
was  gen.  Gookin.  In  1675,  he  boldly  stepped  for- 
ward to  support  the  cause  of  the  praying  Indians, 
-whom  the  people  hated  and  despised,  merely  be- 
cause they  were  Indians  ;  and  whom  the  magistrates 
were  ready  to  persecute  even  unto  death.  Major 
Gookin  endeavoured  to  calm  the  ebullition  of  their 
passions.  He  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Eliot ;  and  they 
both  suffered  every  tiling  from  the  obloquy  and 
scorn  of  those,  who  ought  to  have  respected  their 
good  intentionSj  and  who  were  convinced  after- 
wards that  they  acted  a  wise  and  honest  part. 

Major  Gookin  had  been  superintendant  of  all  the 
Indians,  w^ho  had  submitted  to  the  provincial  gov- 
ernment. He  knew  more  about  them  than  all  the 
other  magistrates.  So  far  from  joining  in  the  w^ar 
against  the  English,  many  of  them  were  objects  of 
pity,  and  some  were  brought  into  distress  by  their 
friendship  for  them,  and  attachment  to  Christianity. 

Mr.  Gookin  was  the  last  major  general  under  the 
old  charter.  This  post  of  honour  was  continued 
under  the  charter  of  William  and  Mary  ;  but  the 
officer  was  not  chosen  by  the  freemen.  After  Dud- 
ley, Endicott  and  Gibbons  had  adorned  the  station, 
major  Sedgwick  was  chosen.  Major  Atherton  suc- 
ceeded him  ;  then  Daniel  Dennison,  John  Leverett 
and  Daniel  Gookin. 

Our  worthy  magistrate  appears  very  respectable 
as  an  author.  A  considerable  work  of  his  is 
published  in  the  first  volume  of  the  collections  of 
the  Massachusetts  historical  society.  It  is  a  very 
particular  account  of  the  Indians  in  New  England, 
with  a  biographical  sketch  of  the  writer  from  an  ac- 
curate pen,  to  which  we  are  indebted  for  several 
facts*    He  had  prepared  a  much  larger  work,  the 


G  O  R  221 

history  of  New  England,  which  was  left  in  mss.  but 
which  probably  is  lost. 

Gen.  Gookin  died  in  1687,  an  old  man,  whose 
days  were  filled  with  usefulness.  He  left  no  estate  ; 
his  widow  was  in  such  indigent  circumstances, 
that  Mr.  Eliot  solicited  the  hon.  Mr.  Boyle  to  be- 
stow upon  her  ten  pounds.*  He  left  a  number  of 
children.  His  eldest  son,  Daniel,  who  graduated 
in  1669,  was  minister  at  Sherburne,  and  a  preacher 
to  the  Indians  at  Natick.  His  second  son,  Nathan- 
iel, who  graduated,  1675,  was  minister  of  Cam- 
bridge, and  fellow  of  Harvard  College.  He  died, 
August  7,  1692,  in  the  34th  year  of  his  age,  and 
tenth  of  his  ministry.  Mr.  G.  minister  of  Hamp- 
ton, was  the  son  of  the  minister  of  Cambridge.  He 
w^as  graduated,  1703.  He  also  had  a  son,  Nathan- 
iel,  who  graduated,  1731,  who  was  settled  in  the 
same  town,  in  a  parish  called  North  Hill.  x\nd  a 
grandson  capt.  Daniel  Gookin,  who  was  an  officer 
in  the  American  army  during  the  revolutionary 
war.     Collections  of  Historical  Society.    Hutchinson. 

Gorges  Sir  Ferdinando,  governour  of  the 
fort  and  island  of  Plymouth  in  Devonshire,  and  one 

*  The  following  extract  from  the  "  Journal  of  the  commission- 
ers of  the  united  colonies,"  shows  Mr.  G.  received  somelhin;.- 
during  his  life  from  the  corporation  de  propag.  fide.  It  is  a  let- 
ter dated,  London,  March  7,  1663,  4. 

"  We  do  much  rejoice  that  captaine  Gookin  has  proued  soe 
usefullan  instrument  amongst  the  Indians  as  in  gouerning  theire 
children  in  learning  ;  and  as  many  other  thinges  of  like  nature 
which  wee  highly  approve  off  as  alsoe  of  youer  allowance  of  15 
pounds  made  to  him  towards  his  expences  ihe  yeare  pail ;  and 
wee  are  uery  willing  that  you  should  make  the  same  unto  him 
another  yeare  ;  and  we  are  glad  to  heare  that  the  Indian  youthes 
at  Cambridge  have  made  so  good  proficiency  in  learning  and  wee 
are  not  without  hopes  but  that  the  Lord  will  use  them  as  instru- 
ments in  his  hand  to  preach  and  promote  the  gospel  of  Christ 
amongst  their  own  countrymen.  To  this  end  and  for  the  better 
carrying  on  thereof  wee  desire  that  care  may  be  taken  that  they 
retaine  theire  native  language ;  and  as  for  those  five  Indian 
youthes  att  inferior  schooies  wee  desire  that  all  incouragemeiit 
5nay  be  given  them  according  to  theire  capassilies  and  attain- 
rnentsin  learning,  Stc.   Hazard's  Collections,  vol.  ii.  page  49: 


222  G  O  R 

af  the  first  and  chief  promoters  of  the  New  Eng- 
land plantations.  He  was  the  intimate  friend  of  sir 
Walter  Raleigh.  Thej-  were  both  men  of  enter- 
prizing  genius,  with  a  similar  turn  for  adventure, 
and  promoted  some  of  the  most  important  voyages, 
which  never  would  have  been  undertaken  without 
their  assistance.  In  1604,  Gorges  was  appointed 
governour  of  Plymouth.  Obtaining  a  patent  from 
king  James,  of  making  settlements  in  America,  he 
fitted  out  a  ship,  August,  1606,  for  discovery,  which 
w^as  seized  and  carried  to  Spain.  The  next  year 
he,  and  sir  John  Popham,  sent  over  two  ships,  with 
100  men,  who  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Kennebeck 
river  on  a  peninsula,  where  they  built  a  fort.  When 
the  ships  departed,  only  45  persons  were  left.  It 
was  the  month  of  December,  and  they  had  to  bear 
the  cold  of  a  North  American  winter.  They  had 
but  a  poor  shelter  from  the  storm,  and  to  add  to 
their  misfortune,  their  store  house  was  burnt,  with 
a  large  part  of  their  provisions.  Other  melancholy 
circumstances  concurred  to  make  them  sick  of  the 
place,  and  they  left  it  with  disgust.  This  was  the 
first  settlement  in  New  England.  It  was  begun  and 
ended  in  less  than  a  year.  Gorges  was  not  discou- 
raged ;  but  with  other  associates,  after  the  death  of 
sir  John  Popham,  who  contributed  the  most  to  help 
the  first  adventure,  he  planned  several  voyages  to 
New  England,  which  were  executed  with  more  or 
less  success.  He  probably  would  have  been  dis- 
couraged, if  the  church  at  Ley  den  had  not  formed  a 
settlement  at  New  Plymouth  ;  but  this  gave  a  new 
animation  to  his  spirits,  and  strengthened  him  in  his 
schemes.  In  1623,  a  settlement  was  begun  at  Pis- 
cataqua,  in  which  sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  was  con- 
cerned, and  this  led  him  into  speculations  that  were 
afterwards  injurious  to  the  people  of  Massachusetts  ; 
for  he  joined  with  Mason  in  certain  projects, 
equally  detrimental  to  their  freedom  and  interest. 
'i  hey  endeavoured  to  bring  the  whole  country, from 
St.  Croix  to  Maryland,  under  one  form  of  govern- 


G  O  R  225 

ment,  and  because  Massachusetts  charter  stood  in 
their  way  they  tried  to  get  it  revoked.  This  was 
about  the  year  1635.  A  quo  warranto  was  issued 
against  the  charter  and  order  for  the  establishment 
of  the  general  government,  but  the  commotions  in 
Great  Britain  prevented  it  being  completed.  Gor- 
ges obtained  in  1639  a  confirmation  of  his  own 
grant,  which  was  styled  the  province  of  Maine,  of 
which  he  was  made  lord  palatine.  He  was  on  the 
royal  side  in  the  civil  w^ar,  but  died  soon  after  it 
commenced.     Belknap, 

Gorges  Robert,  son  of  sir  Ferdinando,  was 
active  and  enterprising,  but  had  not  the  persever- 
ance of  his  father.  He  obtained  of  the  council  a 
patent  of  a  tract  of  land  in  the  north  east  of  Massa- 
chusetts, ?0  miles  long,  and  10  in  breadth,  and  had 
a  commission  to  be  lieut.  general  and  governour  of 
New  England.  He  came  to  Plymouth,  1623.  This 
was  the  first  essay  for  a  general  government ;  but 
he  met  with  so  little  assistance  that  he  returned  to 
England  in  the  course  of  the  year.  Hutchinson 
says  he  conveyed  his  title  to  sir  William  Brierton, 
who  afterwards  became  an  adventurer  in  the  Mas^ 
sachusetts  corporation. 

Gorges  Ferdinando,  esq.  son  of  John  Gor. 
ges,  and  grandson  of  the  governor  of  Plymouth,  was 
heir  to  the  estate  and  title  of  his  grandfather.  He 
says,  that  he  was  appointed  by  his  grandfather  with 
col.  Norton  and  others  to  settle  a  plantation  upon 
"  the  river  Agamentico  ;"  and  that  they  obtained  a 
patent  of  12000  acres  on  the  east  side,  and  then 
12000  to  the  west,  and  that  "  they  had  hopes  of  a 
happy  success."  His  controversy  wifh  the  govern- 
ment of  Massachusetts  is  rather  a  subject  for  the 
history  of  the  country,  than  a  biographical  sketch 
of  the  man.  When  Charles  II.  came  to  the  throne, 
he  expected  to  have  no  more  dispute  about  his 
claim,  calculating  upon  the  friendship  of  the  family 
to  the  royal  cause,  and  the  enmity  of  the  king  to 
the  New  England  puritans.   But  while  he  met  with 


224  G  O  H 

court  favour,  he  found  himself  involved  m  difficul- 
ties with  the  settlers  of  Agamenticus,  and  that  in- 
stead  of  receiving  large  profits  from  the  possessions 
of  these  lands,  they  were  a  bill  of  cost  continually, 
beside  other  discouragement  from  the  depredations 
of  the  savages.  He  was  glad  therefore  to  sell  his 
whole  interest  in  the  province  of  Maine,  which  he 
did  for  1250  pound  sterling.  It  included  the  coun- 
ties of  York,  Cumberland  and  Oxford. 

Mr.  Gorges  published  a  book  concerning  New 
England.  His  grandfather  compiled  it,  but  it  was 
much  enlarged  by  him  :  it  is  entitled,  "  America 
painted  to  the  life  ;  a  true  history  of  the  original 
undertakings,  of  the  advancement  of  plantations  in- 
to those  parts,  with  a  perfect  relation  of  our  Eng- 
lish discoveries,  shewing  their  beginning,  progress 
and  continuance  from  the  year  1628  to  1658,  de- 
claring the  forms  of  their  government,  policies,  re- 
ligion, manners,  customs,  military  discipline,  wars 
with  Indians,  commodities  of  the  countries,  a  des- 
cription of  their  towns,  havens,  the  increase  of  their 
trading,  with  the  names  of  their  governours  and 
magistrates,  written  by  sir  Ferdinand©  Gorges, 
knight,  governour  of  the  fort  and  island  of  Ply- 
mouth, in  Devonshire  ;  and  published  by  his  grand- 
child, F.  Gorges,  esq.  who  hath  much  enlarged  it 
and  added  several  curious  descriptions  of  his  own." 
small  4to,  Lond.  1658.  This  is  a  curious  and 
scarce  book.  Hutchinson  and  Belknap  have  made 
great  use  of  it. 

Go  R  HAM  Nathaniel,  esq.  was  born  in  Charles - 
town.  May  27,  1738.  He  had  the  advantage  of  a 
good  school  education,  and  possessing  uncommon 
talents,  he  always  appeared  to  advantage  in  compa- 
ny with  literary  men.  He  settled  in  business  at  the 
place  of  his  nativity,  but  seemed  to  be  formed  more 
for  publick  life  than  to  succeed  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. He  was  chosec  representative  for  Charles- 
town  in  1771,  and  every  year  till  the  commence- 
ment of  the   revolutionary  war.      He  was   a  very 


G  O  R  225 

assiduous  attendant  on  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, was  a  leader  in  all  their  debates,  and  pre- 
served independence  enough  openly  to  dissent 
from  measures,  which  he  disapproved.  On  this 
account  he  did  not  escape  the  obloquy  of  some 
ignorant,  narrow-minded  persons,  whose  zeal  was 
only  the  ebullition  of  their  passions,  and  who  con- 
founded  all  who  had  any  moderation,  with  those 
who  were  unfriendly  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  He 
spent  some  years  in  retirement ;  but  returned  to 
Charlestown  in  1779,  and  was  again  sent  to  the  gen- 
eral court.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  a  dele- 
gate of  the  convention,  which  formed  the  present 
constitution  of  this  commonwealth.  In  1788,  he 
was  chosen  a  senator  for  Middlesex  county.  He 
also  served  his  country  with  diligence  and  respec- 
tability as  a  magistrate,  and  was  several  years  judge 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  In  1784,  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  house  of  representatives,  and  being 
delegated  by  this  state  to  be  a  member  of  congress, 
was  elected  president  of  that  honourable  body. 

He  was  one  of  the  convention  which  formed  the 
present  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  he  ob- 
tained a  high  reputation  among  the  southern  mem- 
bers for  his  knowledge  and  integrity.  He  stood  high 
with  all  parties  for  his  wisdom  and  prudence  as  well 
as  skill  in  managing  debates.  He  was  on  this  ac- 
count one  of  the  most  influential  members  of  the 
state  convention  which  adopted  it.  He  died,  June 
11,  1796.  Dr.  Thatcher  preached  a  funeral  ser- 
mon ;  the  town  also  appointed  an  orator  to  deliver 
an  eulogy  upon  their  deceased  friend,  and  most  use- 
ful fellow  citizen.  In  compliance  with  their  request. 
Dr.  Welch  paid  this  tribute  to  his  remains  ;  and 
the  town  testified  their  acknowledgments,  by  a  vote 
of  thanks,  and  by  publishing  the  discourses. 

Gorton  Samuel,  the  head  of  a  sect  who  made 

much  noise  in  New  England,   came  to  Boston  in 

1636.     He  had  been  a  citizen  of  London,   but  was 

too  unsteady  to  remain  in  one  place,  or  was  stimu- 

I  f 


226  G  O  R 

lated  to  change  his  situation  for  the  sake  of  spread- 
ing his  wild  fantastick  notions  of  religion.  He  did 
not  give  any  particular  offence  while  he  remained  in 
Boston,  or  was  artful  in  explaining  his  senti- 
ments ;  for  those  who  inquired  could  not  determine 
whether  they  were  heretical  or  not.  But  he  soon 
went  to  Plymouth  where  he  acted  the  same  part,  as 
Wheelwright  and  Mrs.  Hutchinson  did  in  Massa- 
chusetts. Not  being  permitted  to  stay  in  the  old 
colony,  he  went  to  Rhode  Island  in  1658:  but  even 
in  this  land  of  freedom,  he  rendered  himself  obnox- 
ious, and,  by  order  of  the  governour,  Mr.  Codding- 
ton,  was  imprisoned  ajid  v>  hipped.  In  16iO,  he 
w^nt  to  Providence,  where  he  was  treated  by  Ro- 
ger Williams  with  the  greatest  humanity,  though 
he  disliked  his  principles,  and  blamed  his  con- 
duct. He  set  down  in  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try, and  mixing  with  others,  who  were  fond  of 
novelty,  they  fixed  at  Patuxet,  where  they  not  only 
indulged  their  spiritual  Quixotism,  but  were  very 
troublesome  as  neighbours.  A  charge  was  brought 
against  them  that  they  seized  the  estates  of  people, 
who  held  them  in  quiet  possession.  The  governour 
of  Massachusetts  ordered  Gorton  to  answer  to  the 
complaint,and  he  refused  to  obey  the  summons  be- 
cause he  was  out  of  their  jurisdiction.  He  treated 
the  message  in  the  most  contemptuous  manner ; 
upon  which  he  was  apprehended  and  brought  to 
Boston.  It  is  said  he  had  a  fair  trial,  and  that  he 
was  then  banished  the  colony.  But  he  thought 
othewise  about  the  trial.  And  Mr.  Hutchinson 
says  the  sentence  was  cruel.  Gorton  was  or- 
dered to  be  confined  to  Charlestown ;  there  to  be 
kept  at  work,  and  wear  such  bolts  and  irons  as 
might  prevent  his  escape. 

After  being  confined  one  winter,  he,  with  others, 
w^as  banished  the  jurisdiction.  They  obtained  an  order 
from  the  king,  August  19,  1644,  that  they  should 
peaceably  enjoy  their  lands,  which  were  incorporat- 
ed by  the  name  of  Providence  plantations  in  Narra- 


G  R  E  227 

ganset  bay.  They  named  the  chief  town  Warwick, 
in  honour  to  the  earl  of  Warwick,  who  was  a  great 
friend  to  them.  Gorton  was  again  in  Boston,  1648, 
and  threatened  with  punishment ;  but  he  soon  after 
returned  to  his  plantation,  where  he  lived  to  a  great 
age.  He  wrote  a  letter,  June  30,  1669,  to  Mr. 
Morton,  author  of  New  England's  memorial,  ac- 
cusing him  of  the  grossest  slanders  in  the  account 
which  he  gives  of  him  and  his  followers,  which  is 
printed  by  Mr.  Hutchinson.  It  is  evident  that  he 
was  not  so  bad  a  man  as  his  enemies  represented  ; 
that  his  principles  of  religion  were  different  from 
those  notions  generally  ascribed  to  this  sect  ;  and 
that  so  far  from  being  illiterate  he  was  able  to  write 
well.  From  this  letter  it  appears,  that  he  was  a 
preacher,  and  that  he  understood  the  scriptures  in 
their  original  language.  We  ought  never  to  judge 
any  man's  opinions  from  the  consequences  we  draw 
from  them.  This  was  the  case  wherever  the  Gor- 
tonists  were  described.  But  they  were  able  to  give 
their  reasons,  which  we  should  hear  before  w^e  con- 
demn them. 

GosNOLD  Bartholomew,  an  Englishman,  dis- 
covered a  promontory  on  the  American  coast,  in 
lat.  42,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Cape  Cod, 
from  the  multitude  of  fishes  he  caught.  He  landed 
on  several  islands,  and  named  them  Elizabeth  isles- 
He  built  a  small  fort  ;  but  the  same  year  returned 
to  England.  This  was  in  the  year  1602.  It  was  the 
first  voyage  to  this  part  of  America,  since  called 
New  England.  Josselyn  speaks  of  the  first  colony 
of  Plymouth  in  1602.  He  must  mean  this  attempt 
to  settle  the  islands  in  the  bay,  upon  which  Gos- 
nold  landed,  but  could  not  persuade  his  men  to 
stay. 

Green  Samuel,  the  first  printer  in  New  Eng- 
land, was  an  inhabitant  of  Cambridge,  and  kept  his 
press  in  that  town  above  forty  years,  and  then  mov- 
ed to  Boston.  We  are  indebted  to  the  rev.  Mr. 
Joseph  Glover  for  this  great  blessing  to  the  countryj 


228  G  R  E 

a  printing  press.  It  is  not  likely  our  fathers  would 
have  been  so  soon  favoured  with  it,  had  he  not  ex- 
erted himself  to  serve  them.  In  the  year  1638,  he 
took  his  voyage  to  these  plantations,  but  died  on 
his  passage.  He  brought  out  with  him  one  Daye, 
a  printer,  and  every  thing  necessary  in  the  typo- 
graphical art.  The  first  thing  which  was  printed 
was  the  freeman's  oath  ;  the  next  was  Pierce's  al- 
ananack  ;  and  then  the  New  England  psalms.  Great 
pains  have  been  taken  to  procure  one  of  the  first 
edition  of  these  psalms,  but  without  success.*  It  is 
not  probable  that  one  remains.  We  know  but  lit- 
tle about  Daye  ;  but  we  know  that  Mr.  Green  had 
this  press  in  1 639,  and  every  book  that  was  publish- 
ed had  his  name  in  the  title  page.  When  he  was 
employed  to  print  the  Indian  bible  by  the  society 
for  propagating  the  gospel,  they  sent  over  Marme- 
duke  Johnson  as  his  assistant,  whose  character  was 
very  much  against  him,  being  an  idle,  dissipated 
youth,  though  he  afterwards  set  up  for  himself,  and 
did  very  well  in  his  business. f  Mr.  Green  was  a 
printer  in  Boston  the  latter  end  of  the  century,  and 
lived  only  afewyears  after  his  removal.  He  was  a  man 
of  piety,  the  strictest  probity,  of  good  abilities  in  his 
profession,  and  considerable  of  a  literary  character. 
Green  Bartholomew,  the  son  of  Samuel 
Green,  who  succeeded  him  in  his  line  of  business, 

*  These  psalms  have  gone  through  twenty  three  editions. 

t  It  pleased  the  honored  corporation  to  send  over  one  Marme- 
duke  Johnson  a  printer  to  bittend  the  vvorke  on  condition  as  they 
will  enform  you  ;  whoe  hath  carryed  heer  unworthyly  of  which 
hee  hath  bine  openly  convicted  and  sencured  in  some  of  our  courts 
altliough  as  yett  noe  execution  of  sentence  against  him  ;  pecd- 
liar  favour  haueing  been  showed  him  with  respect  to  the  corpo- 
ration that  sent  him  ouer  ;  but  notwitlistanding  all  patience  and 
lenitie  used  towards  him,  he  hath  proued  himself  very  idle  and 
nought  and  absented  himself  from  the  worke  more  than  half  a 
yeare  at  one  tyme  ;  for  v/ant  of  whose  assistance  the  printer  by 
liis  agreement  with  us  was  to  have  the  allowance  of  2  I  pound, 
the  which  is  to  be  defalcated  out  of  his  sallary  in  England  by  the 
honoured  corporation  there,'*  See. — Letter  from  the  commission- 
ers in  Boston  to  the  hon.  Robert  Boylcj  Sept.  10,  166^.  Haz« 
ard's  Collections. 


G  R  E  229 

emitted  from,  his  press  the  first  newspaper  in  Amer- 
ica. Several  of  the  first  numbers  are  on  the  files  of 
the  historical  society.  It  was  called  the  Bubton 
Newsletter.  The  first  number  is  dated,  April  24, 
1704.  It  was  continued  by  him  during  life.  Mr. 
Green  also  published  another  paper,  called  the 
Weekly  Newsletter,  which  was  afterward  combin- 
ed with  the  other,  and  then  it  was  styled  the  Boston 
Weekly  Newsletter.  He  died  in  December,  1733, 
in  the  65th  year  of  his  age.  "  He  was  one  of  the 
deacons  of  the  old  south  church ;  printer  to  his  ex- 
cellency the  governour  and  council,  and  to  the  hon- 
ourable house  of  representatives  ;  and  generylly 
known  and  esteemed  as  a  humble  and  exemplary 
christian,  one  who  had  much  of  that  primitive  Chris- 
tianity in  him,  which  has  always  been  the  distin- 
guishing glory  of  New  England." 

His  descendants  were  printers  in  Boston  till  the 
revolution.  The  present  printers  of  that  name  in 
Connecticut  are  of  his  posterity.  Daye's  press  is 
said  to  be  still  in  use  in  Vermont.  A  printer 
now  in  Boston  says  he  has  worked  at  it.  This 
seems  incredible  J  perhaps  a  certain  part  is  kept 
as  a  curiositv. 

Green  Joseph  was  born  in  Boston,  1706;  re- 
ceived the  rudiments  of  learning  under  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, the  preceptor  of  the  south  grammar  school  ; 
and  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1726. 

He  was  a  man  of  wit  and  humour,  a  celebrated 
poet,  classical  scholar,  and  writer  of  fugitive  piec- 
es. When  he  left  college  he  turned  his  attention  to 
mercantile  affairs,  and,  by  his  diligence  in  business, 
acquired  a  handsome  property.  He  w^as  respecta- 
ble for  a  very  comprehensive  knowledge  of  things 
relating  to  commerce,  and  for  his  integrity,  punctu- 
ality, humanity  and  generosity.  To  these  virtues 
he  added  good  breeding,  politeness  and  elegance. 
He  was  not  fond  of  high  life,  nor  of  large  compa- 
nies ;  but  among  a  few  friends  would  indulge  in 
social  mirth,  and  by  his  original  strokes  of  humour, 


230  G  R  E 

and  pleasant  vein  of  satire,  afford  peculiar  gratifica- 
tion to  those  who  enjoyed  his  society.  His  wit, 
taste,  and  learning  might  have  connected  him  with 
persons  eminent  for  their  influence  in  the  commu- 
nity, or  given  him  any  distinction  an  ambitious  man 
would  seek  after  ;  but  he  never  would  accept  of  a- 
ny  publick  office,  preferring  a  retired  situation,  and 
the  happiness  of  domestic  scenes.  In  1774,  when 
an  act  passed  in  the  parliament,  depriving  Massa- 
chusetts of  their  charter,  a  new  list  of  counsellors 
was  appointed  by  mandamus,  among  the  most  re- 
spectable of  whom  was  the  hon.  Joseph  Green,  esq. 
but  he  declined  accepting  the  place.  As  soon  as  he 
received  the  summons  from  gov.  Gage,  he  went  to 
Salem  and  gave  in  his  resignation. 

Of  the  poetical  pieces  he  published,  the  '-elegy  on 
Mr.  Old  Tenor, ' '  and  the  • '  satire  upon  the  procession 
of  Free  Masons,"  have  passed  through  many  editions, 
and  are  still  read  with  keen  sensations  of  delight.  Dur- 
ing the  IVhitejieldian  controversy,  there  was  a  club 
of  sentimentalists  who  spake  what  they  thought, and 
wrote  what  they  pleased  :  though  the  authors  were 
not  always  distinguished,  as  the  pamphlets  were  e- 
xnitted  from  the  press,  it  w^as  easy  to  conjecture 
what  parts  Mr.  Green  composed,  especially  if  a  line 
of  poetry  was  introduced.  The  same  circle  of  litera- 
ry friends  took  a  zealous  part  in  politicks.  They  be- 
gan by  attacking  the  administration  of  gov.  Belcher. 
Every  speech  he  made  was  put  into  rhyme  ;  and 
many  parts  of  his  conduct  exposed  to  ridicule. 
They  could  joke  in  prose  and  verse.* 

During  the  administration  of  Shirley,  they  en- 
gaged in  a  more  serious  opposition,  not  so  much 
against  the  governour,  as  the  general  court  who  in- 
troduced the  excise  bills,  which  was  very  obnoxious 

•  Siste  Viator,  here  lies  one, 

Whose  life  was  whim,  whose  soul  was  pun  ; 

And  if  you  go  too  near  his  Iierse 

He'll  joke  you  both  in  prose  and  verse. 

Epitaph  made  for  Mr.  Green,  1743. 


GRE  231 

to  the  people.  But  Shirley  did  not  sign  it.  In  the 
controversy  with  Great  Britain  previous  to  the  rev- 
olution, most  of  these  gentlemen,  who  had  written 
so  freely  against  arbitrary  measures  in  their  own 
government,  joined  the  party  of  loyalists,  conceiv- 
ing that  the  high  toned  conduct  of  the  whigs  would 
bring  ruin  upon  their  country.  Mr.  Green  left 
Boston  in  the  year  1775;  passed  the  rest  of  his  days 
in  England,  and  there  died. 

It  is  the  wish  of  many  that  his  poems  and  prose 
writings,  which  are  now  scattered,  might  be  col- 
lected, and  put  into  a  volume. 

Green  Nathaniel,  major  general,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Warwick,  in  the  government  of  Rhode  Island, 
where  he  lived  and  was  engaged  in  commercial  pur- 
suits till  the  commencement  of  the  American  war. 
He  was  proprietor  of  the  iron  works  in  that  town, 
where  the  manufacture  of  this  article  was  carried  ou 
to  much  advantage.  He  had  not  a  college  educa- 
tion, but  was  highly  esteemed  among  the  sensible 
men  of  that  colony.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than 
common  sagacity  in  business,  early  famed  for  politi- 
cal wisdom,  and  inclined  to  the  study  of  military 
tacticks.  Having  arrived  at  considerable  proficien- 
cy  in  this  science,  and  being  a  good  parade  officer, 
the  governour  selected  him  to  command  the  first 
troops  which  were  raised  to  resist  Great  Britain  af- 
ter the  battle  of  Lexington.  While  the  army  was  at 
Cambridge  he  commanded  a  brigade,  stationed  on 
Winter  Hill.  He  led  part  of  the  army  to  New  York, 
when  head  quarters  were  moved  in  1776,  and  made  a 
conspicuous  figure  in  all  the  succeeding  campaigns. 
His  actions  make  some  splendid  pages  in  the  history 
of  the  American  revolution.  In  1776,  he  was  appoint- 
ed major  general.  The  American  army  met  with 
a  series  of  defeats,  and  were  in  a  manner  driven 
through  the  Jersies  by  lord  Cornwallis,  who  was  as 
superiour  in  numbers,  as  in  discipline.  At  this 
time  gen.  Lee  was  taken,  which  struck  the  people 
with  the  greatest  sorrow,  as  they  had  placed  great 


232  G  R  E 

confidence  in  his  military  skill ;  but  it  answered  one 
good  purpose  at  the  time,  for  it  brought  our  own 
oiHcers  into  more  notice,  and  whatever  credit  they 
obtained  was  undivided.  The  battle  of  Trenton 
was  gained  by  the  American  generals,  Washington, 
Sullivan  and  Green.  They  succeeded  also  in 
gaining  advantage  of  the  British  forces  by  making 
a  rapid  march  to  Princeton,  which  gained  them  im- 
mortal honour,  while  it  appeared  the  only  way  of 
saving  the  army.  *'  When  we  lay  at  Trenton,  after 
the  crossing  the  Delaware  a  second  time,  the  ene- 
my advanced  from  Princeton  with  a  force  nearly 
double  to  ours.  Our  outguards  were  repulsed,  and 
the  enemy  entered  one  part  of  the  town,  while  we 
remained  in  possession  of  the  other.  There  was 
now  only  a  small  branch  of  a  river  between  us  over 
which  there  was  a  bridge  ;  this,  though  well  secur- 
ed, would  have  been  of  little  advantage  to  us,  as  the 
stream  was  fordabie  in  every  part.  Our  army  was 
drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  waiting  their  approach. 
But  the  day  being  far  spent,  a  stop  was  put  to  their 
making  the  attack  that  night.  This  was  the  most 
critical  moment  our  bleeding  country  ever  beheld. 
The  fate  of  this  extensive  continent  was  suspended 
by  a  single  thread.  Happy  for  us,  and  for  imborii 
millions  that  we  had  a  general  who  knew  how  to 
take  advantage  of  every  thing,  and  by  a  masterly- 
man  ceuvre  frustrated  the  designs  of  the  enemy.  A 
general  battle  would  have  ruined  us.  But  the 
march  to  Princeton  proved  the  salvation  of  the 
country."-^  In  both  these  engagements  gen.  Green 
distinguished  himself;  as  he  did  afterwards  in  the 
battle  of  Brand}  wine  and  Germantown  in  the  fall 
of  1777.  In  1778,  he  commanded  the  right  wing 
of  the  army  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth.  His  con. 
duct  that  day  gave  much  pleasure  to  gen.  Wash- 
ington, who  had  been  very  much  chagrined  at  the 
misbehaviour  of  gen.  Lee.  That  famous  officer  had 
beenexchanged;  he  had  received  every  honour  this 
country  could  bestow  upon  him ;  but  from  this  day 
•  Major  Shaw'3  mss. 


G  R  E  233 

he  lost  their  confidence  and  esteem.  He  demaaded 
a  court  martial,  and  was  disgraced.  Gen.  Green 
was  one  of  the  court,  whose  attachment  to  him> 
previously  to  this,  had  been  very  strong. 

It  shows  the  consequence  of  gen.  Green  in  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  that,  while  he  acted  as 
quarter  master  general,  he  did  every  kind  of  milita- 
ry service.  He  was  better  qualified,  on  account  of 
his  activity  and  mercantile  ideas,  to  provide  for  the 
army,  than  any  other  man ;  but  such  an  officer  could 
not  be  spared  from  the  field.  And  he  would  not  ac- 
cept of  the  place  of  quarter  master  general,  except  he 
retained  his  right  to  command  in  action.  His  milita- 
ry skill  and  prudence  were  manifested  in  drawing  ofF 
the  American  army  from  Rhode  Island,  when  the 
French  fleet  left  the  harbour.  This  happened,  Au- 
gust, 1778.  It  was  a  time  of  great  expectation  : 
but  the  hopes  of  the  people  were  cut  off",  and  the 
military  sensibility  of  the  soldiers  much  wounded. 
Had  the  army  been  supported  according  to  promise  ; 
had  the  French  fleet,  or  our  militia  remained  with 
them,  they  would  in  all  probability  have  taken  the 
island. 

When  major  Andre  was  taken,  October,  1780, 
gen.  Green  was  president  of  the  court  martial 
which  tried  and  condemned  him. 

We  are  in  the  next  place  to  view  our  general  as 
commander  of  the  southern  section  of  the  army. 
He  there  reaped  the  greatest  laurels,  and  reflected  as 
much  lustre  upon  his  country  as  upon  himself.  The 
success  of  our  arms  from  January,  1781,  when  the 
battle  of  Cowpens  gave  a  new  turn  to  affairs  in  South 
Carolina,to  the  conclusion  of  the  war,may,  in  a  great 
measure,  be  imputed  to  his  wise  measures  for  re- 
moving  difficulties  among  the  people,  conciliating 
their  affections,  and  stimulating  their  exertions 
against  the  common  foe.  Great  credit  is  due  to 
Morgan,  who  fought  at  Cowpens.  This  victory- 
was  of  infinite  advantage  to  the  commander  in  chief. 
But  he  discovered  his  own  wisdom  and  virtue  in 


234  G  R  E 

making  use  of  the  best  talents  in  his  army.  And 
when  he  had  made  preparations  for  a  general  en- 
gagement, he  boldly  met  lord  Cornwallis,  fought  a 
regular  battle, near  Guildford  court  house,  and  was 
near  gaining  a  victory.  Had  the  militia  stood  firm, 
like  the  soldiers  of  the  army, the  British  troops  must 
have  retreated.  Lord  Cornwallis  acknowledged  it 
was  a  "  hard  fought  action,"  and  that  the  American 
army  behaved  admirably  well.  They  lost  one  of 
their  best  officers,  col.  Webster  of  the  guards,  and 
many  of  their  officers  as  well  as  soldiers  fell.  The 
wounded  were  left  to  the  care  of  the  humane.  Nei- 
ther Green  nor  Cornwallis  could  remain  upon  the 
spot,  but  were  under  the  necessity  of  abandoning  the 
hospital.  These  unfortunate  men  found  friends.  A 
body  of  quakers  were  in  the  neighbourhood  :  to 
them  gen.  Green  recommended  the  sick  and  the 
wounded,  acquainting  them  that  he  also  was  of  their 
religion,  which  required  them  to  perform  every 
kind  office,  especially  to  strangers.  To  the  honour 
of  these  men  be  it  spoken,  that  they  did  every  thing 
necessary  for  their  ease  and  comfort.  Gen.  Green 
afterwards  attempted  to  reduce  the  fort  at  Camden, 
where  lord  Bawdon  commanded.  His  lordship  was 
brave,  sallied  out,  and  a  battle  was  fought,  25th 
April  ;  but  Green  saw  fit  to  retreat.  He  lost  in  the 
action  about  the  same  number  as  fell  on  the  side  of 
the  British  troops.  It  had  this  effisct  to  make  lord 
Rawdon  quit  his  post. 

In  May  our  general  began  a  siege  of  fort  Ninety 
six.  He  made  an  attack  upon  the  garrison,  and 
was  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  150  men  ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  retreated  over  the  Saluda,  In 
this  gloomy  situation,  when  he  was  advised  to  leave 
the  state,  and  retire  with  the  remaining  forces  to 
Virginia,  he  replied,  I  will  recover  the  country,  or 
die  in  the  attempt.  We  learn  this  from  Dr.  Ram- 
say's history  of  the  revolution  in  South  Carolina, 
one  of  the  first  and  best  works  of  that  distingushed 
writer.    He  enters  into  a  minute  description  of  the 


G  O  R  235 

battles  fought  in  that  state,  and  gives  a  just  account 
of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  southern  army.  On 
the  i9th  of  September  Green  made  an  attack  upon 
the  enemy  at  Eutaw  springs.  In  this  engagement, 
as  we  are  informed  by  the  author  above  mentioned, 
the  American  army  lost  500,  the  British  1 100  men. 
The  congress  presented  gen.  Green  with  a  British 
standard,  and  a  gold  medal  emblematical  of  his  suc- 
cess, **  for  his  wise,  decisive  and  magnanimous  con- 
duct in  the  action  at  Eutaw  springs  ;  in  which,  with 
an  inferior  force,  he  obtained  a  most  signal  victo- 
ry." The  historian  informs  us  that  during  this  time, 
there  was  a  plot  laid  by  certain  mutinous  characters, 
among  his  own  troops,  to  deliver  up  to  the  enemy 
this  brave  and  fortunate  commander,  which  was 
providentially  discovered.  All  the  very  active  ope- 
rations of  the  army  were  over  in  the  beginning  of 
1782.  In  October,  1781,  lord  Cornwallis,  with 
his  army  at  Yorktown,  surrendered.  The  rumour 
was,  that  the  city  of  Charleston  was  to  be  evacuat- 
ed, which  would  end  the  disturbances  in  South 
Carolina.  It  was  officially  announced,.  August  7th. 
The  olive  branch  was  soon  displayed  in  the  hand 
of  Britannia,  and  peace  was  established  the  next 
year.  Among  the  warriors  who  left  the  field  to 
retire  to  their  own  habitations,  we  may  now  look  at 
gen.  Green,  and  behold  him  one  of  the  best  of  cit- 
izens,  as  he  was  in  his  military  character  one  of  the 
best  of  our  generals. 

In  1785,  he  removed  his  family  to  Georgia,  and 
he  there  cultivated  a  large  plantation,  which  the  gen- 
eral  assembly  of  that  state  had  granted  him,  as  are- 
ward  for  his  publick  services.  He  died  suddenly, 
it  was  supposed  by  a  coup  de  soleil,  June  19th, 
1786.  Every  honour  was  paid  to  his  remains  by 
the  citizens  of  Savannah,  where  his  body  was  car- 
ried  that  the  funeral  procession  might  be  more  re- 
spectable. The  congress  voted  to  have  a  monu- 
ment erected  at  the  seat  of  the  federal  government, 
with  the  following  inscription, 


236  G  R  I 

SACRED 
to  the  memory  of 
NATHANIEL  GREEN^,  esq, 
who  departed  this  life 
the  nineteenth  of  June,  MDCLXXXVl. 
Late  major  general 
in  the  service  ot  the  United  States, 
and  commander  of  their  army' 
in  the  southern  department. 
The  United  States,  in  conp;ress  assembled, 
in  honour  of  his 
patriotism,  valour  and  ability, 
have  erected  this 
MONUMENT. 
Greenwood   Isaac,    a   mathematician,     was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1721  ;    elected  pro- 
fessor   of  mathematicks,    and  natural   philosophy, 
1728  ;  he  continued  in  the  professorship  ten  years, 
and  was  then  dismissed. 

Mr.  Greenwood  was  the  first  professor  in  these 
branches  on  this  side  the  Atlantick  ocean.  Mr. 
Thomas  Hollis,  of  London,  a  man  famous  for  his 
munificence,  laid  the  foundation  of  it,  and  the  offi- 
cer is  styled.  Mollis  professor  of  mathematicks  and 
natural  philosophy.  When  the  news  of  Mr.  Hollis's 
death  reached  America,  Mr.  Greenwood  published 
*'  a  philosophical  discourse  concerning  the  mutabili- 
ty and  changes  in  the  material  world,-'  in  which 
great  respect  is  paid  to  their  benefactor.  It  was 
read,  April  7,  1731,  and  concludes  in  the  following 
manner  : 

*'  As  in  the  vegetable  kingdom,  it  is  with  a  supe- 
riour  pleasure  and  expectation,  that  we  consider  the 
revival  of  such  plants  as  have  always  been  distin- 
guished  by  the  delicacy  or  plenty  of  their  fruit,  so 
with  the  earnest  desires  and  hopes  we  should  wait 
for  the  day  when  we  shall  behold  the  resurrection  of 
suchy  as  have  distinguished  themselves  by  acts  of 
charity  and  bounty." 

Gridley  Jeremiah,  attorney  general  of  the 
province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  member  of  the 
general  court,  colonel  of  the  first  regiment  of  mili- 
tia, president  of  the  marine  society,  and  grand  mas- 


H  A  K  237 

ter  of  freemasons,  died  at  Boston,  Sept.  7,  1767. 
In  1725,  he  took  his  degree  at  Cambridge ;  was  as- 
sistant in  the  grammar  school  in  Boston,  and  a 
preacher  of  the  gospel.  But  soon  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  law,  and  became  one  of  tiie  most  emi- 
nent of  the  profession.  In  1732,  he  was  editor  of 
a  newspaper,called  the  Rehearsal,  and  filled  the  first 
page  with  an  essay,  either  moral  or  critical,  besides 
writing  political  paragraphs.  His  manner  of  writ- 
ing is  handsome,  and  his  speculations  ingenious : 
at  the  bar  his  speech  was  rough,  his  manner 
hesitating,  but  energetic,  and  his  words  forcible  by 
a  peculiar  emphasis.  His  opinion  was  always  given 
even  to  the  judges  with  a  magisterial  air ;  his  le- 
gal knowledge  was  unquestionable. 

He  was  on  the  side  of  the  whigs ;  and  in  the  house 
of  representatives,  where  he  was  a  member  some 
years,  from  Brookline,  he  opposed  the  measures  of 
Great  Britain  ;  but  in  a  question  on  search  war- 
rants, his  speech  as  attorney  general,  contains  sen- 
timents, incompatible  with  freedom,  which  was 
confuted  by  Otis.  Both  speeches  are  preserved  in 
Minot's  history.  When  Trowbridge  was  promoted 
to  the  bench  of  Judges,  Gridley  was  appointed  at- 
torney general.  He  died  poor,  because  he  despised 
ivealth. 

Hakluyt  Richard,  one  of  the  corporation  of 
adventurers  for  the  prosecution  of  discoveries  in 
North  America,  was  born  in  London,  1553,  and 
educated  at  Westminster  School.  In  1582,  he  pub- 
lished a  **  collection  of  voyages;"  and  in  1587 
translated  into  English  a  French  account  of  Florida 
by  capt.  Loudonnier,  which  he  dedicated  to  sir 
Walter  Raleigh.  In  the  same  year  he  published  an 
improved  edition  of  Peter  Martyr's  book  ''  de  novo 
orbe."  He  was  nominated  by  Raleigh,  and  chosen 
one  of  the  corporation  of  counsellors  and  assistant 
adventurers  ;  and  was  very  active  in  collecting  ac- 
counts, and  prosecuting  voyages.  In  1589,  he  pub- 
lished *'  the  principal  navigations,  voyages  and  dis- 
coveries of  the  English  nation  made  by  sea  or  over 


238  HAN* 

land,"  folio,  three  volumes.  These  books  contahi 
the  narratives  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  voyages. 
The  last  volume  was  printed  in  1600.  He  also 
published  a  translation  from  the  Portuguese  of 
"  Antonio  Galvino's  history  of  discoveries,"  4to, 

In  1605,  he  was  appointed  a  prebend  in  West- 
minster ;  with  this  he  had  a  rectory  in  Suffolk,  He 
was  in  more  easy  circumstances  than  he  had  been  ; 
and  in  1609  published  a  translation  of  "  Ferdinand 
de  Soto's  description  of  Florida."     He  died,  1609. 

Purchas  made  great  use  of  his  papers,  mss.  as 
well  as  books  that  were  printed. 

That  famous  navigator  Hudson,  named  a  promon- 
tory on  the  continent  of  Greenland,  Hakluyt's 
Headland.     Biog.  Did, 

Hancock  Thomas,  merchant  in  the  town  of 
Boston,  was  the  son  of  the  rev.  Mr.  Hancock  of 
Lexington,*  was  born,  July  Sd,  1703  ;  and  died 
suddenly,  August,  1764. 

He  left  iOOO  pounds  for  founding  a  professorship 
of  the  Hebrew  and  other  Oriental  languages  ;  1000 
pounds  for  the  society  for  propagating  the   gospel 

*  The  rev.  John  Hancock,  of  Lexington,  was  venerable  for  his 
character,  and  great  abilities  in  his  profession  ;  he  had  such  an 
influence  among  the  ministers,  that  he  was  called  bishop.  He 
was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  1689,  and  in  the  year  1698,  ordain- 
ed over  a  society,which  then  made  part  of  the  town  of  Cambridge, 
called  the  Farms.  It  is  now  Lexington,  being  incorporated  in 
1711.     Mr.  H.  died,  1752. 

This  worthy  minister  left  three  sons ;  John,  Thomas  and 
Ebenezer.  The  eldest  son  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1719.  He  died,  1744,  etat.  42.  He  was  minister  of  the  church 
at  Braintree,  a  very  elegant  and  accomplished  preacher.  He 
published  several  volumes,  and  a  pamphlet  in  the  controversy  con- 
cerning the  proceedings  of  the  convention  of  ministers  in  the 
year  1743.  It  is  entitled,  "  a  reply  to  IVIr.  Gee's  remarks  on  the 
printed  testimony  of  pastors  in  Boston  against  several  errors  and 
disorders  in  the  land  "  Mr,  Hancock  was  one  of  the  committee 
that  formed  this  testimony.  Thomas,  the  second  son,  served  his 
time  with  col  Henchman,  a  stationer  in  Boston;  but  having  a  turn 
for  more  extensive  business,  became  one  of  the  principal  mer- 
chants in  New  I'ngland.  Ebenezer  was  graduated,  1728;  was 
settled  with  hisfiUher  six  years,  and  died,  Januarv  28,  1739,  AQ, 
ctat.  29. 


HAN  239 

;^  among  the  Indians.  Upon  this  his  heart  was  very 
f  much  set  ;  but  the  design  was  frustrated.  Such  a 
society  was  instituted  by  the  general  court,  but  the 
act  was  negatived  by  the  governour.  He  also  left 
600  pounds  towards  a  hospital  for  the  reception  of 
persons  deprived  of  their  reason  ;  and  two  hundred 
for  carrying  on  the  linen  manufacture. 

While  he  lived  he  was  a  most  useful  member  of 
society  ;  active  in  every  office,  a  patriot  full  of  pub- 
lick  spirit.  He  was  often  employed  in  the  service 
of  the  town,  and  for  many  years  a  member  of  his 
majesty's  council.  As  a  merchant  he  exhibited  the 
strictest  probity.  *'  He  never  fell  short  of  his  en- 
gagements to  any,  and  his  humanity  often  prompted 
him  to  go  beyond  them." 

*'  His  house  was  the  seat  of  hospitality,  where  all 
his  numerous  acquaintance,  and  strangers  of  dis- 
tinction, met  with  an  open  and  elegant  reception.'" 

The  procession  at  his  funeral  was  very  great,  and 
the  mourning  of  the  inhabitants  sincere.  They  felt 
the  magnitude  of  the  loss,  especially  vast  num- 
bers of  industrious  men  whom  he  constantly  em- 
ployed. 

Hancock  John,  governour  of  Massachusetts, 
was  the  son  of  the  rev.  John  Hancock,  of  Braintree. 
He  lost  his  excellent  father  when  he  was  young,  but 
had  every  advantage  of  a  virtuous  and  liberal  edu- 
cation from  the  care  and  kindness  of  his  uncle,  the 
hon.  Thomas  Hancock,  esq.  He  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College,  1754,  and  went  into  the  mercan- 
tile line,  serving  an  apprenticeship  with  his  uncle, 
who  then  was  in  the  midst  of  his  prosperity,  and 
did  more  business  than  any  other  man  in  Boston. 
He  was  regarded  by  his  friends  as  an  amiable  young 
man  ;  but  discovered  no  prominent  traits  of  char- 
acter which  should  lead  his  acquaintance  to  prog- 
nosticate the  conspicuous  figure  he  was  afterwards 
to  make  in  society.  The  hon.  Thomas  Hancock 
died  suddenly  in  1764.  The  property  he  left 
was  very  great;     In  the  imagination  of  the  people 


240  HAN 

it  was  immense.      It  was  the  subject  of  conversa- 
tion in  every  street,   and  by  every  fire  side,   while 
all  lamtnted   the  loss  the  publick  had   sustained. 
But  they  soon    turned  their  attention  to  him  who 
was  the  heir  of  his  fortune,   and  appeared  disposed 
to  imitate  his  virtues.     He  was  promoted  to  every 
office  which  a  man  fond  of  publick  life  could  expect 
or  desire.      His  manners  were  pleasing.     He  was 
polite,   affable,   easy  and  condescending,  and  what 
was  greatly  in  his  favour  did  not  appear  to  be  lifted 
lip  with  pride.      Such   an  elevation   to  prosperous 
circumstances  would  make  some  men   giddy,  and 
cause   others   to   despise   the    neighbour,    poorer 
than   themselves.     He    was,    for  several  years,  se- 
lectman of  the  town;  and  in  1766,  representative  to 
the  general  court.     He  there  blazed  a  whig  of  the 
lirst  magnitude.      Otis,   Gushing,   and   S.  Adams 
were  the  other  three,  who  represented  the    capital, 
men  of  name  in  the  revolution   of  their  country. 
Being  fond  of  publick  notice,   he  was  flattered  by 
the  approbation  of  the  people,  with  their  marks  of 
confidence,  and  the  distinction  he  had  in  the  gene- 
ral court.   He  was  generally  chosen  on  committees, 
and  was  chairman  upon  some  occasions,   when  the 
most  important  concerns  of  the  country  were  the 
subjects  of  the  report.     How  far  he  was  engaged  in 
drawing  these  reports  is  not  to  be  ascertained ;  but 
they  contained  his  sentiments  upon  publick  affairs. 
He  often  gave  his  opinion  when  questions  were  be- 
fore the  house,  and   mingled  in  the  debates,   but 
possessed  no  great  powers  as  a  parliamentary  speak- 
er.     He  iiever  made  a   long  speech,  either  in  the 
style   of  declamatory   eloquence,    or  the  masterly 
reasoning  of  a  great  statesman.  The  vivid  and  ener- 
getick  orations  of  Otis  were  the  theme  of  admiration. 
The  political  sagacity  of  Adams,  the  publick  spirit 
and  patriotick  zeal  of  Hancock, also  gave  a  lustre  to 
the  boston  seat.      Perhaps  there  never  was  a  time 
when  the  representatives  of  the  capital  had  such  an 
influence  in  tliQ  affairs  of  the  province.     There  was 


HAN  241 

a  collision  of  sentiment  among  the  leading  whigs 
about  the  removal  of  the  court  to  Boston.     Hutch- 
inson offered  this  upon    certain  conditions,  which 
the  majority  of  members  saw  fit   to  comply  with. 
Mr.  H    voted  with  them.      Adams  was  against  the 
measure,  and  expressed  his  sentiments  in  opposition 
to  his  friend  and  colleague.      Mr.  Hancock  was  a 
man  impatient  of  contradiction,  and,  upon  some  oc- 
casions, indulged  a  petulant  humour.  He  could  not 
bear  the  opposition  of  Mr.  Adams  on  this  question. 
It  was  one  cause  of  the  alienation  between  them. 
That  gentleman  was  cool  and  determined,  hard  and 
unyielding,  as  well  as  bold  in  his  argument.     He 
sometimes  was  sarcastick  in  his  replies  ;    but  upon 
the  subject  which  then  divided  the  house,he  observ- 
ed the   utmost  delicacv,   and  seemed  to  dread  the 
consequence  of  this  political  difference.       These 
gentlemen  had  different  views,  though  equally  zeal- 
ous in  their  opposition  to  the  mother  country.     Or 
else  one  looked  further  than  the  other.    Mr.  H.  was 
not  against  a  reconciliation,  if  Great  Britain  would 
repeal  ail  her  unjust  acts,   ^nd  pay  due   respect  to 
the  rights  of  the  colonies.    Adams  did  not  wish  the 
ancient  friendship  should  be  renewed.      From  the 
time  of  the  stamp  act,  he  saw  that  hostilities  would 
commence,   and  the  American  colonies  become  a 
nation  by  themselves.      He  was  desirous  of  being 
an  actor  in  the  most  important  scenes,  and  have  his 
name  handed  down  to  posterity  among  the  patriots, 
who  were  to  form  a  new  era  in  the   revolution  of 
empires. 

The  division  of  these  two  leading  characters  made 
parties  among  the  whigs,  especially  in  the  town  of 
Boston.  Mr.  Hancock  was  the  idol  of  the  people. 
His  generosity  upon  all  publick  occasions,  and 
kindness  to  individuals,  were  the  theme  of  continu- 
al and  loud  applause.  It  was  said  that  his  heart  was 
open  as  the  day  to  acts  of  beneficence  :  that  he  sunk 
his  fortune  in  the  cause  of  his  country.  This  was 
the  prevailing  idea,  and  it  gave  a  perfume  to  the 

H  h 


242  HAN      ^ 

sacrifice.  What  bounds  could  be  given  to  the  peo- 
ple's affection  to  a  man,  who  preferred  **  their  lov- 
ing favour  to  great  riches  !" 

He  was  certainly  the  most  popular  man  in  the 
communit}'.  Nor  was  his  popularity  a  transient 
thing.  At  future  periods  of  our  revolution,  when 
attempts  were  made  to  depreciate  him  ;  when  other 
characters  were  brought  forward  whose  merit  was 
conspicuous  ;  and  even  when  he  was  accused,  in  the 
publications  of  the  day,  of  wanting  qualifications  for 
administering  the  government,  he  still  retained  his 
influence  in  the  community.  It  is  well  known,  that 
some  of  our  greatest  and  wisest  and  best  men  have 
solicited  his  concurrence  in  their  measures,  from 
the  full  persuasion  that  the  popular  voice  w^as  so 
much  in  his  favour. 

In  the  year  1774,  Mr.  H.  was  chosen  to  deliver 
the  publick  oration  in  Boston  on  the  5th  of  March, 
to  commemorate  the  massacre  of  1770.  It  is  a  ve- 
ry handsome  composition,  and  was  very  well  deli- 
vered. During  the  course  of  this  year  his  health 
declined.  When  the  general  assembly  of  the  pro- 
vince elected  members  of  the  first  congress,  he  was 
so  ill,  as  to  be  unable  to  attend  publick  business. 
The  ensuing  winter  was  favourable  to  his  health  ; 
he  recruited  his  spirits  and  activity.  He  was  one 
of  the  provincial  congress,  and,  for  a  time,  their  pre- 
sident. He  was  then  elected  a  member  of  the  gen- 
eral congress,  that  was  to  meet  at  Philadelphia  in 
1775.  This  year  was  the  most  remarkable  of  any  in 
the  annals  of  the  British  nation.  The  revolutionary 
war  commenced,  April  19.  The  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton was  succeeded  by  a  proclamation  from  the  gov- 
crnour,  declaring  the  country  in  a  state  of  rebellion, 
and  proscribing  Hancock  and  Adams,  as  the  chief 
leaders,  whose  behaviour  was  too  flagitious  to  be 
forgiven.  This  only  served  to  give  importance  to 
their  characters  ;  to  fix  them  in  the  esteem  and  af- 
fection of  their  country.  There  were  men  in  these 
states  who  coveted  such  a  mark  of  distinction ;  m«- 


HAN  243 

ny,  who  would  have  given  all  their  wealth,  and  run 
any  risk  of  consequences. 

This  year  Mr  Hancock  married  Miss  Dorothy 
Quincy,  the  daughter  of  one  of  the  magistrates  of 
Boston,  and  descended  from  one  of  the  most  ancient 
families  in  New  Kngland. 

In  1776,  July  4th,  his  name  appears  as  president 
of  the  congress  which  declared  the  colonies  indepen- 
dent of  the  crown  of  Great  Britain.  The  name  of  the 
president  alone  was  published  with  the  declaration, 
though  every  member  signed  It.  It  was  a  mark  of 
respect  due  to  Massachusetts,  to  have  one  of  their 
members  in  the  chair,  which  had  been  filled  with  a 
member  from  South  Carolina  and  Virginia.  Mr. 
H.  had  those  talents  which  were  calculated  to  make 
him  appear  to  more  advantage  as  chairman,  than  in 
the  debates  of  a  publick  body.  He  excelled  as  mo- 
derator of  the  Boston  town  meetings,  as  president  of 
the  provincial  congress,  and  state  convention;  and,  asi 
head  of  the  great  council  of  our  nation,  he  was  much 
respected.  He  discovered  a  fine  address,  great  im- 
partiality, sufficient  spirit  to  command  attention, 
and  preserve  order.  His  voice  and  manner  were 
much  in  his  favour,  and  his  experience,  in  publick 
business,  gave  him  ease  and  dignity. 

In  1779,  Mr.  Hancock  resigned  his  place  in  con- 
gress. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  convention 
that  formed  the  constitution  for  this  commonwealth. 
He  was  not  one  of  the  committee  to  draw  up  the 
plan.  Many  were  earnest  to  have  him  president ; 
but  the  majority  were  for  Mr.  Bowdoin.  He  at- 
tended his  duty,  however,  very  regularly,  and 
sometimes  expressed  his  sentiments.  He  dissent- 
ed from  those,  who  would  have  given  more  power  to 
the  governour,and  more  energy  to  the  constitution. 

From  1780  to  1785,  Mr.  Hancock  was  annually 
chosen  governour  of  the  commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  declined  being  a  candidate  for  the 
office  the  ensuing  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  the 
hon.  James  Bowdoin,  esq.     During  the  administra- 


244  HAN 

tioii  of  Mr.  B.   there  was  an  insurrection  in  the 
state,  which  was  happily  quelled.    Kver\  thing  was 
done  in  the  most  judicious  manner  by  the  governour, 
and  the  legislature,  yet  a  part  of  the  community  ap- 
peared to  be  discontented  with  the  administration, 
and,  in  the  year  1787,  Mr.  Hancock  was  again  plac- 
ed in  the  chair.     The  friends  of  Mr.  Bowdoin  were 
disappointed.      They  consisted  of  a  large  number 
of  respectable   characters    in   the  commonwealth  ; 
men  of  property  and  wisdom,  who  felt  the  injury 
that  gentleman  had  received,  as  a  deep  wound  giv- 
en to  the  body  politick.      The  present  governour 
could  not  escape  their  censure,  and  his  administration 
•was  attacked  by  certain  political  writers,  who  expos- 
ed his  faults  with   the  keenest  satire,   and  excited 
prejudices  against  him.     A  more  friendly  disposi- 
tion was  excited  towards  him,  when  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States  was  offered  to  the  people.   His 
conduct  in  the  state  convention  during  the  discussion 
of  it,  gained  him  honour.      The  opposition  to  this 
excellent  form  of  government  was  great.      It  was 
said  that  the  majority  of  the  convention  would  be 
against  the  adoption  ;    and  that  the  governour  was 
with  the  opposers.    He  was  chosen  president  of  the 
convention,  but  did  not  attend  the  debates  till  the 
latter  weeks  of  the  session.     Certain  amendments 
were  proposed  to  remove  the  objections  of  those, 
Avho  thought  some  of  the  articles  deprived  the  peo- 
ple of  then*  rights.      He  introduced  these   amend- 
ments  with    great   propriety,   and    voted    for    the 
adoption  of  the  constitution.     His  name  and  influ- 
ence doubtless  turned  many  in  favour  of  the  fede- 
ral government.    When  the  president  of  the  United 
States  visited  Boston,  there  was  some  obliquity  or 
peculiarity  in  his  behaviour,  which  renewed  the  old 
prejudices  against  him.      It  was  thought  he  failed 
in  certain  attentions  to  that  illustrious  character,  and 
lie  was  in   some  danger  of  losing  his  popularity  ; 
for  all  classes   of  people  looked  upon  Washington 
as  the  first  of  men. 


H  A  R  245 

The  latter  years  of  his  administration  were  easy 
to  him,  on  account  of  the  publick  tranquillity.  The 
federal  government  became  the  source  of  so  much 
prosperity  that  the  people  were  easy  and  happy. 
The  two  patriots,  Hancock  and  Adams,  were  recon. 
ciled.  When  lieut.  gov.  Gushing  died,  gen.  Lin- 
coln was  chosen,  as  his  successor.  This  gave  great 
offence  to  Mr.  Adams,  and  it  was  very  disagreeable 
to  the  governour.  They  joined  their  strength  to 
support  the  same  measures,  as  well  as  renewed  their 
friendship.  The  next  year,  Lincoln  was  left  out  of 
office,  and  Mr.  Adams  cliosen  lieut.  governour. 
This  gentleman  succeeded  Mr.  Hancock,  as  gover- 
nour-of  the  commonwealth,  after  his  death.  He  di- 
ed, October  8,  1793. 

The  death  of  such  a  man  was  interesting  to  the 
people  at  large.  The  procession  at  his  funeral  was 
very  great.  Dr.  Thacher  the  minister  of  Brattle  street 
church,  preached  his  funeral  sermon  the  next  Sab- 
bath. To  this  society,  he  had  been  a  great  benefac- 
tor ;  he  subscribed  very  largely  for  the  building  of 
this  superb  edifice,  and  was  always  liberal  in  his 
contributions  upon  other  occasions.  He  was  very 
friendly  to  the  clergy  of  all  denominations.  Born 
and  educated  among  them,  he  was  never  weary  of 
assisting  them.  He  did  a  great  deal  also  to  promote 
the  cause  of  learning  as  well  as  religion.  The  li- 
brary of  Harvard  College  will  give  an  exhibition  of 
his  munificence.  His  uncle  expressed  his  inten- 
tion of  subscribing  500  pounds  sterling  towards  fur- 
nishing a  new  library  and  philosophical  apparatus, 
when  Harvard  Hall  was  burnt  in  1764,  but  died 
suddenly  and  this  was  not  expressed  in  his  will. 
The  heir  made  no  hesitation  about  granting  it;  and 
the  name  of  Hancock,  in  golden  letters,  now  adorns 
one  of  the  alcoves  of  the  library  room,  and  is  upon 
the  records  of  the  university  among  her  greatest 
benefactors. 

Harvard  John,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Charles- 
town,  came  over  to  America  in  the  year  1636j  7. 


ne  HAW 

He  died  of  a  consumptive  complaint  soon  after  his 
arrival,  greatly  lamented,  being  a  very  excellent 
man,  and  worthy  minister.  By  his  will,  he  bequeath- 
ed about  800  pounds  to  promote  the  cause  of  litera- 
ture in  New  England.  The  general  court  had  given 
400  pounds  towards  a  publick  school  at  Newtown  ; 
and  the  institution  found  encouragement  from  seve- 
ral other  benefactors.  But  because  the  memorable 
John  Harvard  led  the  way, by  a  generosity  exceed- 
ing  the  most  of  them,  his  name  was  justly  eternised, 
$ays  the  author  of  the  Magnalia,  by  its  having  the 
name  of  Harvard  College  imposed  upon  it, 

Hawthorne  William,  one  of  the  fathers  of 
Massachusetts,  came  over  to  Dorchester;  but  yvhen 
Hugh  Peters  was  minister  of  Salem,  he  removed  to 
that  place.  He  became  one  of  their  most  useful 
citizens,  and  their  representative  to  the  general 
court.  Johnson  says,  thatihe  was  the  most  eloquent 
man  in  the  assembly.  He  was  a  friend  of  Winthrop, 
and  often  opposed  to  hndicot,  who  glided  with  the 
popular  stream,  it  was  Mr.  Hawthorne's  opinion, 
which  he  publickly  advanced  and  supported,  that 
none  but  men  of  property  were  qualified  for  civil  of- 
fices. He  was  also  of  opinion  that  the  council 
ought  to  be  permanent.  This  political  tenet  w^as  the 
subject  of  a  treatise,  which  Mr  Saltonstall  wrote,  in 
1642.  His  book  was  highly  censured.  Mr.  N or- 
ris, the  minister  of  the  church  in  Salem,  answered 
it.  The  reply  is  handsomely  commended  by  gov. 
Winthrop.  In  1650,  Mr.  Hawthorne  was  chosen 
speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives,  and  is  the 
first  upon  record.  He  certainly  was  very  influen- 
tial in  all  the  affairs  of  the  province  for  many  years, 
and  whatever  his  former  opinions  had  been,  he 
drank  deeply  of  the  republican  spirit  of  New  Eng- 
in  his  latter  days.  For  he  was  one  of  the  obnoxious 
characters,  which  king  Charles  H.  required  to  be 
sent  to  England.  He  mentioned  five  gentleman 
who  were  to  answer  for  the  conduct  of  the  colony. 
And  the  letter  expressed  two  of  their  names,  Mr. 


HAY  247 

Bellingham  and  Mr.  Hawthorne,  The  court  of 
Massachusetts  did  not  send  them.  It  was  the  opin. 
ion,  however,  of  many  of  the  first  characters  in  the 
province,  that  it  would  be  best  to  comply  with  the 
order  of  the  king.  But  their  conduct  was  censured. 
The  governour  called  the  court  together,  and  desir- 
ed that  the  elders  might  be  present,  who  gave  their 
advice  against  it.* 

Mr.  H.  was  as  reputable  for  his  piety  as  for  his 
political  integrity.  He  was  a  friend  to  the  consti- 
tution of  the  New  England  churches,  and,  whenever 
occasion  required,  was  ready  to  defend  the  privileg- 
es of  the  brethren  against  the  encroachments  of  the 
elders.  Major  Hawthorne  was  a  magistrate  in  1676. 
He  died  the  latter  end  of  the  century.  Several 
families  of  the  name  are  in  the  state  ;  and  some  of 
his  descendants  are  respectable  inhabitants  of  the 
town,  where  their  ancestor  was  so  well  esteemed  and 
made  such  a  conspicuous  figure.     Hutch,   Bentley: 

Haynes  John  arrived  at  Boston,  A.  D.  1633. 
The  next  year  he  was  chosen  assistant,  and  in  1635 
advanced  to  the  chair  of  government.  He  removed 
from  Massachusetts  to  Connecticut,  and  was,  for 
many  years,  their  most  distinguished  character. 
Had  he  continued  in  Massachusetts,  he  would  have 
been  a  rival  to  gov.Winthrop,  His  property,  which, 
combined  with  any  considerable  qualifications,  will 
always  give  a  man   influence,  was  equal  to  a  thou- 

•  Among  the  magistrates,  some  are  good  men  and  well  affect- 
ed to  his  majesty,  and  would  be  well  satisfied  to  have  his  authori- 
ty in  a  better  manner  established  ;  but  the  major  part  are  of  dif- 
ferent principles,  having  been  in  the  government  from  the  time 
they  formed  themselves  into  a  commonwealth.  These  direct  and 
manage  all  affairs  as  they  please  ;  of  which  number  are  Mr.Lev- 
erett,  governour,  Mr.  Symonds,  deputy  governour,  Mr.  Danforth, 
Mr.  Tyng,  major  Clarke,  major  Hawthorne,  who  still  continued  a 
magistrate,  though  commanded  by  his  majesty  upon  his  allegi- 
ance to  come  into  lingland,  yet  refused,  being  encouraged  in  his 
disobedience  by  a  vote  i)f  the  court,  not  to  appear,iipon  some  rea- 
sons best  known  to  themselves.  These,  with  some  few  others 
of  the  same  faction,  keep  the  country  in  subjection  and  slavery, 
backed  with  the  authority  of  a  pretended  charter,  Randolph's 
letter  to  the  lords  of  the  privy  council. 


248  H  1  G 

sand  pounds  a  year  in  his  own  country  ;  but  when 
Mr.  Hooker  came  over  to  New  England,  he  joined 
the  company.  They  resided  at  Newtown,  with  a 
number  of  families  from  the  county  of  Essex. 
They  were,  most  of  them,  farmers,and  wanted  more 
extent  of  land  to  cultivate.  Dr.  Trumbull  says, 
^'  that  the  growing  popularity  of  Mr.  Haynes,  and 
the  fame  of  Mr.  Hooker,  who,  as  to  strength  of  gen- 
ius, and  his  lively,  powerful  manner  of  preaching, 
rivalled  Cotton,  were  supposed  to  have  had  no 
small  influence  upon  the  general  court  in  giving 
liberty  to  this  company  to  remove  to  Connecticut. 
There,  it  was  judged,  they  would  not  so  much 
eclipse  the  fame,  nor  stand  in  the  way  of  the  pro- 
motion and  honour  of  themselves  and  friends.  Mr. 
Haynes  was  chosen  governour  of  Connecticut ;  and 
his  great  integrity  and  wise  management  of  all  af- 
fairs so  raised  and  fixed  his  character  in  the  esteem 
of  the  people,  that  they  always,  when  the  constitu- 
tion would  permit,  placed  him  in  the  chief  seat  of 
government,  and  continued  him  in  it  until  his  death. 

The  fathers  of  Connecticut,  according  to  the  his- 
torian above  mentioned,  were  Mr.  Haynes,  Mr. 
Ludlow,  Mr.  Hooker,  Mr.  Warham,  Mr.  Hopkins, 
Mr.  Welles,  Mr.  Willis,  Mr.  Whiting,  Mr.  Wol- 
cott,  Mr.  Phelps  and  Mr.  Webster.  These  were 
the  first  class  of  settlers  ;  and  all,  except  the  minis- 
ters, were  chosen  magistrates,  or  governours  of  the 
colony. 

Dr.  Trumbull  says,  the  name  of  Haynes  has  be- 
come extinct  in  this  country.  There  are  several 
families  of  Haynes'  in  Massachusetts  ;  but  whether 
they  came  from  the  same  parts  of  old  England  can- 
not be  ascertained. 

Gov.  Haynes  died  in  the  year  1654. 

HiGGiNsoN  Francis  was  educated  at  Emanuel 
.College,  Cambridge;  proceeded  rnaster  of  arts,  and 
was  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Lancaster.  He  had  a 
very  pleasant  voice  ;  was  very  courteous  and  oblig- 
ing in  his  behaviour,  and  so  popular,  that  the  people 


H  IG  249 

flocked  from  all  the  neighbouring  towns  to  hear  him 
preach.  For  some  years  he  continued  in  his  con- 
formity to  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  episcopal 
church,  but  afterwards  became  a  sincere  convert  to 
the  doctrines  and  manners  of  the  puritans.  His  ac- 
quaintance with  the  famous  Hildersham,  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Hooker,  brought  about  this  alteration  of 
his  opinions.  They  had  studied  the  controversies, 
which  then  divided  the  churches  of  the  reformation, 
and  persuaded  him  to  indulge  the  same  spirit  of 
free  inquiry.  He  acknowledged,  that  he  could  find 
no  foundation  for  many  things,  which  had  been  in- 
troduced by  the  church  of  Rome,  and  still  continu- 
ed in  the  church  of  England  ;  and  he  was  a  man  of 
too  much  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity  to  practise 
them  after  he  was  convinced  from  what  source  they 
came.  Hence  he  offended  the  ruling  party,  and  was 
not  allowed  to  exercise  his  ministry  in  his  own  par- 
ish church.  The  people,  however,  procured  the 
privilege  of  his  preaching  a  lecture  one  part  of  the 
Sabbath  for  them  ;  and  the  other  part  he  preached 
for  an  aged  minister,  who  needed  his  assistance. 

He  was  maintained  by  a  voluntary  contribution, 
which  came  easily  from  his  hearers,  because  he  was 
so  well  beloved.  The  ministers  of  the  episcopal 
church  were  also  so  fond  of  him,  that  they  opened 
their  churches  to  him,  as  long  as  they  could  do  it 
with  any  safety.  Happily  for  them,  they  were  in 
the  diocese  of  one  of  the  most  exemplary  and  sweet 
tempered  bishops  that  ever  filled  an  episcopal  see. 
This  was  Dr.  Williams,  whom  bishop  Laud,  with 
the  fierce  spirit  of  bigotry,  hated,  because  he  had  so 
much  evangelical  charity.  The  rods  of  his  WTath 
were  shaken  against  Mr.  Higginson,  among  the 
other  favourites  of  the  good  bishop  of  Lincoln.  He 
could  not,  however,  destroy  the  work  which  Mr. 
Higginson  had  done.  It  pleased  God  to  give  lus- 
tre to  his  character,  and  success  to  his  ministry. 

Before  Mr.  H.  became  a  non-conformist,  he  ap- 
peared to  manifest  more  regard  to  discipline  in  his 

I  i 


250  H  I  G 

church  than  was  common,  though  nothing  more 
than  the  rubricks  required.  He  publickly  declared 
that  ignorant  and  scandalous  persons  were  not  to  be 
admitted  to  the  Lord's  supper.  After  preaching 
upon  this  text,  "  Give  not  that  which  is  holy  unto 
dogs,"  a  man,  who  was  a  common  drunkard  and 
swearer,  approached  the  chancel.  He  said  to  him, 
before  the  whole  assembly,  that  he  was  not  willing 
to  give  the  Lord's  supper  to  him,  until  he  had  pro- 
fessed his  repentance,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  con- 
gregation. The  man  was  full  of  resentment,  but 
could  not  resist  the  commanding  influence  the  man 
of  God  had,  as  much  by  the  virtue  of  his  character, 
as  the  sacredness  of  his  office.  Another  instance  is 
mentioned  in  the  Magnalia,  which  may  be  related  in 
the  words  of  the  author,  as  it  is  less  accompanied 
with  marvellous  circumstances,  than  are  generally 
combined  with  his  biographical  sketches.  *'  A  fa- 
mous doctor  of  divinity,  prebend  of  a  cathedral,  and 
chaplain  to  his  majesty,  then  lived  at  Leicester. 
This  gentleman  preached  but  very  seldom  ;  and 
when  he  did  at  all,  it  was  after  that  fashion,  which 
has  sometimes  been  called  gentleman-preaching ; 
after  a  flaunting  manner  and  with  such  a  vain  osten- 
tation of  learning,  and  affectation  of  language  as  ill 
became  the  oracles  of  God  ;  the  people  generally 
flocking  more  to  the  edifying  preaching  of  Mr.  H. 
than  to  these  vain  harangues.  Our  doctor  so  ex- 
tremely resented  it,  that  both  publickly  and  private- 
ly, on  all  opportunities,  he  expressed  his  indigna- 
tion against  Mr.  H.  and  vowed  that  he  would  cer- 
tainly drive  him  out  of  town.  Now  it  so  fell  out, 
that  the  sheriff"  appointed  this  doctor  to  preach  at  the 
general  assizes  there,  and  gave  him  a  quarter  of  a 
year's  time  to  prepare  a  sermon  upon  that  occasion. 
But  in  all  this  time  he  could  not  provide  a  sermon 
to  his  own  satisfaction,  insomuch  that  a  fortnight 
before  the  time  was  expired,  he  expressed  to  some 
of  his  friends  a  despair  of  being  well  provided. 
Wherefore  his  friends  persuaded  him  to  try,  telling 


HIG  251 

him  that  if  it  came  to  the  worst,  Mr.  H.  might  be 
procured  to  preach  in  his  room  ;  he  was  always  rea- 
dy. The  Dr.  was  wonderfully  averse  to  this  last 
proposal,  and  therefore  studied  with  all  his  might 
for  an  agreeable  sermon  ;  but  he  had  such  a  blast 
from  heaven  upon  his  poor  studies,  that  the  very 
night  before  the  assizes  began,  he  sent  his  wife  to 
the  devout  lady  Cave,  who  prevailed  with  Mr.  H. 
to  supply  his  place  the  day  ensuing ;  which  he  did 
with  a  most  suitable,  profitable  and  acceptable  ser- 
mon ;  and  unto  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  audito- 
ry. When  the  lady  Cave  had  let  this  matter  be 
known,  how  this  thing,  which  was  much  wondered 
at,  came  about,  the  common  discourse  of  the  town 
so  confounded  the  doctor,  that  he  vowed  he  would 
never  come  into  it  again.  Thus  Mr.  Higginson 
was  left  in  the  town,  but,  I  pray,  who  was  driven 
out?'' 

The  high  reputation  of  Mr.  Higginson  procured 
him  the  offer  of  some  of  the  best  livings  in  the 
island,  but  his  principles  of  non- conformity  operat- 
ing upon  a  mind  imbued  with  the  love  of  truth,  he 
sacrificed  every  worldly  consideration,  and  trusted 
in  providence  for  the  means  of  support.  He  edu- 
cated  a  number  of  youths, who  were  afterwards  good 
scholars  at  the  universities,  and  shone  as  lights  in 
the  christian  church.  From  the  benevolence  of  his 
disposition,  he  forwarded  every  pious,  useful  and 
charitable  work  ;  but  his  generous  sympathy  was 
peculiarly  remarkable  towards  the  protestant exiles, 
who  came  from  Bohemia  and  the  Palatinate,  when 
the  French  had  burned  their  cities,  and  they  had  be- 
held their  dulcia  arva  changed  to  fields  of  blood. 

In  the  year  1628,  the  company  of  Massachusetts 
bay  in  New  England  began  a  plantation.  It  was 
their  decree,  that  none  but  honest  and  godly  men 
should  go.over  to  settle.  Mr.  Higginson  was  a  man 
admirably  calculated  to  manage  their  design  of  pro- 
pagating what  they  styled  reformed  Christianity. 
He  complied  with  their  request ;    for  he  thought 


252  H  I  G 

their  invitation  a  call  from  heaven  to  which  he  must 
listen.  They  set  sail  from  the  isle  of  Wight,  May, 
1629,  and  when  they  come  to  the  land's  end,  Mr, 
Higginson  calling  up  his  children  and  other  passen- 
gers of  the  ship,  said,  **  We  will  not  say  as  the 
separatists  were  wont  to  say  at  their  leaving  of  En- 
gland, Farewell  Babylon  !  Farewell  Rome  !  But  we 
will  say,  Farewell  dear  England  1  Farewell  the  church 
of  God  in  England,  and  all  christian  friends  there  ! 
We  do  not  go  to  New  England  as  separatists  from 
the  church  of  England,  though  we  cannot  but  sep- 
arate from  the  corruptions  in  it,  but  we  go  to 
practise  the  positive  part  of  church  reformation,  and 
propagate  the  gospel  in  ^'^merica." 

This  cornpany  arrived  at  Salem  harbour  29th  of 
June.  There  were  only  six  houses,  beside  Mr. 
Endicot's.  Tlie  same  voice  was  then  heard  in 
this  American  wilderness,  which  had  charmed  the 
crowded  cities  of  Europe.  Mr.  Skelton  being  asso» 
ciated  with  Mr.  Higginson,  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, a  day  of  religious  preparation  was  observed. 
Mr.  Higginson's  church  considered  the  two  arti- 
cles, which  had  been  agreed  upon  between  Mr.En- 
dicot  and  Mr.  Fuller,  of  Plymouth,  who,  though 
laymen,  were  deeply  interested  in  the  ecclesiastical 
affairs  of  the  plantations,  viz.  "  That  the  church  of 
Salem  would  not  acknowledge  any  ecclesiastical  ju- 
risdiction in  the  church  at  Plymouth.  And  that 
the  authority  of  ordination  should  not  exist  in  the 
clergy,  as  in  the  protestant  churches,  but,  as  the 
unqualified  sense  of  the  reformed  churches,  should 
entirely  depend  upon  the  free  election  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  and  that  there  should  be  a  re- 
presentative  of  this  power  continually  in  the  church." 
We  are  told  that  Mr.  Endicot  had  explained  his 
views  to  the  church  at  Plymouth ;  and  that  Mr. 
Higginson  consented.  He  drew  up  likewise  a 
*'  confession  of  faith,"  with  a  scriptural  repre- 
sentation of  the  *'  covenant  of  grace,"  applied  to 


H  I  G  25S 

their  purpose,  whereof  thirty  copies  were  taken  for 
the  thirty  persons,  who  gathered  the  church. 

This  ancient  church  was  organized,  August  6th, 
1629.  Mr.  Skelton  was  chosen  pastor,  Mr.  Hig- 
ginson  teacher,  and  other  officers,  according  to  the 
regulations  they  had  adopted. 

After  this,  many  others  joined,  whose  good  con- 
versation and  conduct  were  amply  testified.  The 
first  winter  our  fathers  were  exercised  with  many 
trials,  and  more  than  one  hundred  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Salem  died.  Mr.  Higginson  also  fell  into 
a  hectic  fever,  but  continued  preaching  for  some 
time.  The  last  sermon  he  preached  was  upon  this 
text,  '*  What  went  ye  out  in  the  wilderness  to  see." 
Matt,  xi,  7.  It  was  occasioned  by  the  arrival  of 
many  persons  from  Europe  to  settle  in  diiferent 
places  of  New  England.  Finding  himself  near  his 
dissolution,  he  conversed  freely  upon  it.  He  said 
*'  that  although  the  Lord  called  him  away,  he  was 
persuaded  God  would  raise  up  others,  to  carry  on 
the  work  that  was  begun,  and  that  there  would  be 
many  churches  in  this  wilderness  "  He  died  August, 
1630,  leaving  a  widow  and  eight  children. *- 

He  lived  long  enough,  however,  to  secure  the 
foundation  of  his  church,  to  deserve  the  esteem  of 
the  colony,  and  to  provide  himself  a  name  among 
the  worthies  of  New  England. 

Mr.  Higginson  wrote  an  account  of  New  Eng^ 
land,  which  is  printed  in  the  first  volume  of  the  col- 
lections of  the  historical  society.  It  is  styled,  "A 
short  and  true  description  of  the  discoveries  and 
commodities  of  the  country.  Written  in  the  year 
1629,  by  Mr.  Higginson,  a  reverend  divine,  now- 
resident  there.     London,  1630,  third  edition.'' 

Higginson  Francis,  eldest  son  of  Mr.  H.  of  Sa- 
lem, was  educated  by  his  father  in  England,  and  was 
an  excellent  scholar.  He  kept  a  school  in  this  country ; 
but  having  a  desire  to  visit  some  European  univer- 

•  This  is  the  time  mentioned  in  the  Magnalia.  Mr.  Bentley  in 
his  history  of  Salem,  says  it  was  15th  March. 


254  H  I  G 

sity,  he  went  to  Ley  den,  where  he  finished  his  stu. 
dies.  He  settled  in  his  native  country,  and  was  minis- 
ter for  many  years  at  Kerby- Stephen,  in  Westmore- 
land. In  this  place,  the  quakers  early  made  their 
appearance.  He  wrote  a  book  against  them.  It 
was  entitled,  *'  the  irreligion  of  northern  quakers,'* 
which  is  said  to  be  the  first  thing  written  against 
the  people  of  that  persuasion.  He  also  published  a 
treatise,  **  De  quinque  maximis  Luminibus  ;  De 
luce  increata  ;  De  luce  creata ;  De  lumine  naturae, 
Gratiae  et  Gloriae." 

He  died,  in  1560,  in  the  55th  year  of  his  age. 

HiGGiNsoN  John,  was  born  in  England,  1616, 
and  came  over  with  his  father  to  this  new  world. 
When  his  father  died,  he,  like  his  brother  Francis, 
had  no  other  means  of  support  but  the  fruit  of  his 
knowledge.  By  his  diligence  and  industry,  he 
was  able  to  acquire  learning,  and  to  assist  the  fami- 
ly  in  their  destitute  state.  He  kept  school  at  Hart- 
ford  in  Connecticut,  and  afterwards  accepted  an  in- 
vitation to  be  chaplain  of  the  fort  at  Say  brook.  He 
must  have  been  there  in  1639  :  for  we  find  his 
name  as  witness  to  the  articles  of  agreement  be- 
tween the  settlers  at  Guilford  in  Connecticut,  and 
the  Indians  concerning  the  lands,  which  were  then 
purchased.*  That  excellent  and  upright  man 
George  Fenwick  was  then  at  the  fort.  He  gave  to 
the  planters  a  large  tract  of  land,  on  condition  they 
would  accommodate  Mr.  Whitfield,  his  particular 
friend,  according  to  his  mind. 

This  Mr.  Henry  Whitfield  was  the  first  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Guilford,  and  he  led  this  little  flock 
into  the  wilderness.  He  was  also  a  wealthy  man,  hav- 
ing considerable  possessions  in  the  old  country ;  and 
at  Guilford,  he  built,  at  his  own  expense,  a  large  stone 
house,  which  was  a  defence  against  the  Indians. 
He  was  '*  a  well  bred  gentleman,  a  good  scholar,  a 
great  divine,  and  excellent  preacher."     When   he 

•  Ruggles  account  of  Guilford,  vol.  iii.  of  historical  coUec- 

lions. 


H  I  G  255 

had  continued  with  his  people  about  twelve  years, 
he  went  to  England,  leaving  the  care  of  his  flock  to 
Mr.  Higginson,  who  was  his  son  in  law.  This  gen- 
tieman  had  preached  at  Guilford  some  years.  He 
removed  from  Say  brook  about  the  year  1643,  was  one 
of  the  seven  pillars  of  the  church  of  Guilford,  and 
assisted  Mr.  Whitfield  in  the  pulpit.  He  never  was 
ordained  at  Guilford,  but  took  care  of  the  flock  till 
the  year  1659;  when  he  purposed  to  go  with  his 
family  to  England.  The  vessel  in  which  he  sailed, 
put  into  Salem  harbour  on  account  of  the  weather, 
and  he  was  persuaded  to  settle  in  the  church, 
which  his  father  had  planted.  He  was  ordained  their 
pastor,  August,  1660.  **Major  Hawthorne,  with  the 
deacons,  imposed  hands  upon  him  in  the  presence  of 
the  neighbouring  churches  and  elders." 

As  a  minister.  Mr.  Higginson  v^^as  highly  respect- 
ed. That  he  was  very  popular  in  all  the  country 
appears  from  a  paper  which  Chalmers  published  in 
his  political  annals.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been 
written  by  Randolph  who,  being  employed  as  a 
spy,  sent  a  minute  account  of  the  state  of  Massa- 
chusetts. One  question  was,  Who  are  the  most 
popular  clergymen  ?  Answer.  Thacher,  Oxen- 
bridge  and  Higginson.  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  says, 
likewise,  that  even  when  he  was  eighty  years  old, 
he  preached  with  such  a  manly,  judicious,  pertinent 
vigour,  and  with  so  little  decay  of  his  intellectual 
abilities,  as  was  a  matter  of  just  admiration.  Af- 
ter speaking  thus  highly  of  him,  he  says,  that  he 
should  praise  him  still  more,did  he  not  recollect  the 
saying  of  a  German  divine,  Auferte  ignem,  &.c.  i.  e. 
•'  Oh,  bring  not  the  sparks  of  your  praises  near  me, 
as  long  as  I  have  any  chaff"  left  in  me."  He  is 
afraid  of  receiving  such  a  check  from  his  reverend 
father  of  Salem ;  but  he  comforts  the  good  man  by 
telling  him  that  he  must  soon  die,  and  then  com- 
plete justice  would  be  done  him  in  all  the  churches. 
This  was  written  in  1696;  but  Mr.  Higginson  liv- 
ed a  number  of  years  after :  he  died  in  1708^  aged  93 


256  H  O  A 

He  preached  the  election  sermon  in  1663.  He  also 
published  other  occasional  discourses,  and  several 
prefaces  to  devotional  books.  His  name,  with  Mr. 
Thacher's,  is  affixed  to  the  commendation  of  "  Mor- 
ton's memoriuL"  He  also  wrote  the  attestation  to  the 
church  history  of  New  England,  Magnalia  Ameri- 
cana, &c.  wherein  he  gives  a  particular  narrative  of 
the  Mathers.  Of  the  author  of  that  work  he  thus 
speaks,  "  As  I  behold  this  exemplary  son  of  New 
England,  while  thus  young  and  tender,  at  such  a 
rate  building  the  temple  of  God,  and  in  a  few 
months  dispatching  such  a  piece  of  temple  work  as 
this  is,  a  work  so  notably  adjusted  and  adorned,  it 
brings  to  mind  an  epigram  upon  young  Borcllus  : 
Cum  juveni  tantam  dedit  experieniia  lucem, 
Tale  lit  promat  opus,  quam  dabit  iila  seni  ? 

As  to  myself,  having  been,  by  the  mercy  of  God, 
now  above  68  years  in  New  England,  and  served 
the  Lord  and  his  people  in  my  weak  measure,  60 
years  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  I  may  now  in 
my  old  age,  say  /  haiie  seen  all  that  the  Lord  hath 
done  for  his  people^  and  have  known  the  beginning 
and  progress  of  these  churches  unto  this  day  ;  and 
having  read  over  much  of  this  history  I  cannot  but 
in  the  love  and  fear  of  God,  bear  witness  to  the  truth 
of  it." 

The  last  work  which  appears  with  Mr.  Higginson's 
name  is, the  *'  Testimony  to  the  order  of  the  gospel  in 
the  churches  of  New  England,  left  in  the  hands  of  the 
churches.  By  the  two  most  aged  ministers  of  the 
country,  Mr.  H.  of  Salem,  and  Mr.  H.  of  Ipswich." 

Hoar  Leonard,  M.  D.  president  of  Harvard 
College,  was  elected  into  that  office,  July  13,  1672, 
and  inaugurated  the  10th  of  September. 

This  gentleman  was  graduated  at  the  college,  over 
which  he  afterwards  presided,  in  1650.  He  went  to 
England,  and  was  a  preacher  of  the  gospel ;  he  also 
studied  physick,  and  received  from  the  university  of 
Cambridge,  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  He 
returned  to  New  England  to  accept  of  an  invitation 


H  O  L  257 

he  received  from  the  Old  South  church  in  Boston 
to  be  their  pastor.  Upon  his  arrival  he  was  chosen 
to  succeed  president  Chauncy  at  the  college  ;  but 
though  possessed  of  sufficient  learning,  he  wanted 
a  proper  spirit  of  government,  and  some  other  qual- 
ifications, to  make  himself  respectable  in  the  office. 
Prejudices  were  excited  against  him.  The  stu- 
dents all  left  the  college,  and  the  doctor  resigned 
the  chair,  March  15,  1675,  which  had  been  truly  a 
thorny  seat.  *'  Sceptrum  ilium  scholasiicum  plus 
habet  solicitudinis  quam  pulchritudinis,  plus  curse 
quam  auri,  plus  impedimenti  quam  argenti."* 

His  mind  was  much  affected  by  this  alteration  in 
his  situation,  and  he  died  a  broken-hearted  man, 
Nov.  24,  the  same  year. 

Dr.  Hoar  married  a  daughter  of  Lord  Lisle,  who 
came  over  the  Atlantick  to  share  his  troubles.  She 
exhibited,  in  her  life,  the  charms  of  virtue,  and  the 
practice  of  piety.     Magnalia. 

HoLYOKE  Edward,  president  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, was  born  in  Boston,  had  the  rudiments  of  his 
education  at  the  north  grammar  school,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Cambridge,  A.  D.  1705.  He  was  chosen 
tutor,  1712,  and  the  next  year  a  fellow  of  the  cor- 
poration. '*  These  stations  he  filled  with  reputa- 
tion to  himself,  and  advantage  to  the  society  with 
whose  interests  he  was  so  nearly  concerned."  He 
was  invited  to  the  pastoral  office  in  Marblehead, 
1716.  That  ancient  church  divided,  and  made  two 
distinct  societies.  Mr.  Barnard  and  Mr.  Holyoke 
were  the  preachers  :  the  one  was  settled  at  the  first 
church,  the  other  in  a  church  built  for  him.  Here 
Mr.  Holyoke  officiated  till  the  year  1737,  and  he 
was  then  elected  president  of  the  college. 

Father  Barnard  says,t  *'  that  he  went  to  gov. Bel- 
cher, and  asked  him  why  they  chose  one  Bo^>ton 
minister  after  another,  and  neglected  the  man  who 
was  most  qualified  to  fill  the  chair  of  that  seminary, 

*  Melchior  Adam,  as  quoted  by  Cotton  Mather, 
t  Mss.  penesme. 

Kk 


258  H  O  O 

his  worthy  brother  Holyoke.  His  excellency  an- 
swered,  that  it  would  be  agreeable  to  him  if  he  were 
assured  of  his  orthodoxy,  but  suspicions  had  been 
spread  of  his  being  liberal  in  his  sentiments.  He 
told  him,  that  he  was  more  acquainted  with  him 
than  any  other  person,  and  he  knew  him  to  be  sound 
in  the  faith."  Mr.  Holyoke  continued  in  the  chair 
nbove  thirty  years.  The  college  flourished  under 
his  government.  He  mingled  prudence  with  a  just 
and  noble  spirit,  and  was  a  gentleman  in  his  man- 
ners. His  erudition  was  considerable  ;  but  he 
chiefly  excelled  as  a  mathematician  and  classical 
scholar.  It  was  seldom  he  could  be  persuaded  to 
commit  any  thing  he  wrote  to  the  press.  J  he  con- 
vention sermon,  which  he  printed  in  1741,  is  an  ad- 
mirable discourse.  He  preached  the  first  discourse 
at  the  Dudleian  lecture,  soon  after  the  death  of  the 
founder  ;  but  would  not  publish  it.  Nor  would  h-e 
often  appear  in  the  pulpit  upon  publick  occasions. 
President  Holyoke  died  the  first  week  in  June, 
1769,  in  the  80th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  buried 
with  every  mark  of  distinction  due  to  such  a  re« 
spectable  character.  Gov.  Hutchinson,  treasurer 
Hubbard,  two  members  of  the  corporation,  and  two 
ministers  of  the  board  of  overseers,  who  were  not 
of  that  body,  supported  the  pall.  Professor  Sewall 
delivered  a  funeral  oration  in  latin  ;  and  the  next 
Lord's  day  a  sermon  upon  the  occasion  was  preach- 
ed by  the  rev.  Dr.  Appleton,  which  was  printed, 
with  a  character  of  the  president  annexed,  drawn  by 
one  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  immediate  government 
of  the  college. 

Hooker  Thomas,  the  renowned  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  was  born  at  Mar- 
field,  Leicestershire,  in  1586,  educated  at  the 
university  of  Cambridge,  and  elected  a  fellow  of 
Emanuel  College.  He  was,  in  I6i:6,  a  lecturer  in 
Chelmsford,  Essex  street,  but  not  being  willing  to 
conform  to  all  the  rites  of  the  church  of  England, 
he  was  obligeci  to  lay  (Jowft  the  ministry.     He  af- 


HOC  259 

t^rwards  kept  school,  and  had  for  his  usher,  John 
Eliot,  who,  in  America,  was  afterwards  styled  the 
Indian  apostle.  Finding  himself  still  prosecuted  by 
the  spiritual  court,  in  1630,  he  went  over  to 
Holland.  He  there  became  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  celebrated  Dr.  Ames,  who  declared,  that 
although  he  had  been  acquainted  with  many  scho- 
lars of  divers  nations,  yet  he  never  met  with  Mr. 
Hooker's  equal  for  preaching:,  or  for  disputing. 
Dr.  Mather  says,  that  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Cotton 
were  the  Luther  and  Melancton  of  New  England  : 
he  meant  to  describe  their  different  genius.  It  is 
difficult  for  us,  at  this  da}',  to  know  which  was  Me- 
lancton, or  how  either  resembled  him. 

Mr.  Hooker  arrived  at  Boston,  Sept,  4,  1633,  in 
the  Griffin,  gov.  Haynes,  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Stone 
being  his  fellow  passengers.  In  October  Mr.  H. 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  Newtown.  In 
June,  1636,  he  went  with  his  church  above  a  hun- 
dred miles,  and  settled  upon  the  banks  of  the  river 
Connecticut,  Here  he  was  the  chief  instrument  of  be- 
ginning another  colony.  Had  this  divine  been  call- 
ed to  the  church  in  Boston,  and  Mr.  Haynes  had  no 
rival  in  gov.  Winthrop,  it  is  most  probable  they 
would  have  continued  with  their  people  in  Massa- 
chusetts. He  often  visited  Boston ;  and  whenever 
he  preached,  his  great  fame  drew  crowded  assem- 
blies. This  great  man  died,  July  7,  1647.  Mr. 
Cotton  said,  that  he  did  ''  Agmen  ducere  et 
dominari  in  concionibus,  gratia  spiritus  sancti  et 
virtute  plenis;"  and  that  he  was  *' vir  solertis  et 
acerrimi  judicii."  A  very  full  memoir  of  Mr. 
Hooker  has  been  written  by  the  grandson  of  Mr. 
Cotton,  who  calls  him  the  light  of  the  western  church- 
es. It  makes  part  of  the  Magnalia,  and  is  also 
printed  in  a  separate  volume. 

Many  volumes  of  Mr.Hooker 's  sermons  were  print- 
ed ;  most  of  them  are  now  out  of  print.  One  volume 
on  John  xvii.  is  yet  preserved  among  us,  and  certain 
of  his  polemical  writings.  His  most  famous  work  is 


260  HOP 

the  survey  of  church  discipline :  the  first  copy  was  sen?: 
to  Lngland  in  a  vessel  which  was  lost.  The  copy 
which  we  now  have,  wants  the  finishing  hand  of  the 
author,  but  is  a  work  of  great  merit  and  research. 
He  was  a  friend  to  the  consociation  of  churches.  He 
also  gives  more  authority  to  the  elders  than  was 
ever  allowed  by  our  fathers  of  the  Massachusetts 
colony. 

Hooper  William  was  born  and  educated  in 
Scotland.  After  he  arrived  at  Boston,  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  private  tutor  in  a  gentleman's  family  a 
few  miles  from  the  town.  His  oratory  at  his  first 
setting  out  as  a  preacher  gained  him  vast  applause. 
A  number  having  engaged  him  to  setde  with  them 
as  their  minister,  built  a  house  for  publick 
worship  at  New  or  West  Boston,  and  ordained  him 
the  pastor  of  it.  But  upon  a  vacancy  happening  in 
Trinity  Church  in  Boston,  he  disgusted  his  parish- 
ioners by  accepting  an  invitation  from  that  church, 
and  asking  a  dismission  from  his  own  :  they  howe- 
ver granted  it.  He  embarked  for  England,  and 
having  received  episcopal  ordination  he  returned  to 
Boston,  and  officiated  as  minister  of  Trinity  Church 
till  his  death  in  1767. 

Hopkins  Edward,  governour  of  Connecticut, 
born  at  Shrewsbury,  A.  D.  160O,  was  brought  up 
a  merchant  in  London,  and  lived  in  that  city  in  a 
handsome  style,  with  the  esteem  and  affection  of 
the  people.  He  married  the  daughter  of  Theophi- 
lus  Eaton,  esq.  with  whom  he  removed  to  New 
Lngland  ;  and  when  the  company  went  from  Mas- 
sachusetts  bay  to  Connecticut  river,  he  was  one  who 
iixed  at  Hartford,  and  became  a  pillar  and  ruler  of 
that  colony. 

He  was  exemplary  for  his  piety,  integrity  and 
charity.  In  his  publick  character  he  did  every  thing 
to  maintain  peace,  as  well  as  to  execute  justice. 
He  had  to  combat  with  many  evils,  not  only  in  sub- 
duing the  wilderness,  but  with  others,  which  gave  a 
wound  to  the  spirit ;    an  incurable  dementia  had 


HOP  261 

seized  the  brain  of  his  wife,  at  the  same  time  that 
he  was  subject  to  pulmonary  complaints.  The  lat- 
ter he  could  bear  with  resignation ;  for  what  are  the 
infirmities  of  the  body  compared  with  the  trials  of 
the  heart!  ''I  promised  myself," said  he,'*  too  much 
co'.itent  in  this  relation  and  enjoyment ;  and  the 
Lord  will  make  me  to  know,  that  this  world  shall 
not  afford  itme  " 

Upon  the  death  of  his  elder  brother  it  was  ne- 
cessary  that  he  should  return  to  England,   and  he 
was  there  a  favourite  of  the  ruling  power.     He  was 
soon  appointed  warden  of  the  fleet,   commissioner 
of  the  admiralty,  and  also  chosen  member  of  par- 
liament.     His  friends  in  New  Englaiid  were  un- 
willing to  lose  such  a  man  from  their   plantation  ; 
but  they  derived  much  benefit  from  his  services  in 
the   mother  country.     He  was  eminently  qualified 
for  every  publick  employment ;    was  the  friend  of 
learning  and  religion;  and  having  enjoyed  the  luxu- 
ry of  doing  good  while  he  lived,   his  virtues  blos- 
somed on  his  sepulchre.     He  died  in  the  month  of 
March,  1657,  leaving  a  large  estate  in  New  England 
for  pious  and  charitable   uses.      After   mentioning 
certain  legacies  in  his  will,   he  bequeathed  the  re- 
mainder to  '*  encourage  hopeful  youths  in  a  way  of 
learning,  both  at  the  grammar  school,   and  at  col- 
lege, for  the  publick  service  of  the  country  in  fu- 
ture times." 

He  also  gave  500  pounds  out  of  his  estate  in  Eng- 
land *'  for  the  promoting  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  these  remote  parts  of  the  earth." 
This  donation  was,  by  a  decree  of  chancery,  1710, 
paid  to  Harvard  College.  The  interest  given  in 
New  England  was  estimated  at  1000  pounds  ster- 
ling, and  has  been  appropriated  to  the  support  of 
the  grammar  schools  in  New  Haven,  Hartford  and 
Hadley.  A  certain  part  of  the  income  at  the  disposal 
of  the  corporation  of  Harvard  College  is  given  to  the 
inaster  of  the  schools  in  Cambridge,  according  to 
;he  number  of  grammar  scholars  ;  a  certain  part  in 


262  HOP 

books  to  the  best  scholars  of  the  university  ;  but 
the  greatest  part  of  it  to  students  in  divinity,  who 
reside  at  the  college,  bachelors  of  arts,  upon  this 
condition, that  each  one  should  read  four  theological 
dissertations  in  the  course  of  the  year. 

Mi.  Hopkins  was  elected  governour  of  Connect- 
icut while  he  was  in  England.  He  was  in  the  of- 
fice the  year  he  died.  He  was  also  one  that  form- 
ed the  union  of  the  New  England  colonies.  1643. 
His  name  is  signed  to  the  articles  of  the  confedera- 
tion. Gov.  Winthrop  was  the  first  president.  la 
1644.  the  hon  Edward  Hopkins  of  Connecticut. 
Hazard'' s  Collection- 

Hopkins  Samuel,  D.  D.  was  born  at  Waterbu- 
ly,  Connecticut,  educated  at  Yale  College,  which 
he  entered  in  the  year  1737,  being  then  16  years 
old.  Having  received  the  honours  of  that  semina- 
ry, he  was  settled  at  a  place  on  the  Housatonick 
river,  since  called  Great  barrington,  the  28th  of 
December,  1743.  He  continued  the  pastor  of  the 
church  in  this  place  25  years,  and  was  afterwards  in- 
vited to  Newport  by  the  people  of  the  first  congre- 
gational church  ;  was  ordained  their  minister,  1770, 
but  was  obliged  to  leave  the  place  in  1776.  when 
the  British  troops  took  possession  of  Rhode  Island. 
From  this  time  to  the  year  1780,  he  travelled  over 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  preaching  to  desti- 
tute flocks,  as  his  local  situation  admitted.  When 
his  flock  returned  to  Newport,  he  also  returned 
with  them,  and  preached  to  their  edification  even  to 
old  age.     He  died  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1803. 

Dr  Hopkins  was  a  man  of  great  abilities  in  his 
profession,  a  profound  metaphysician,  eminent  as  a 
writer  of  polemick  divinity,  but  more  eminent  as 
the  head  of  a  denomination  of  christian  professors, 
xvhich  have  greatly  increased  in  New  England. 
From  his  own  account  of  them,  -'they  are  the  most 
sound,  consistent,  thorough  Calvinists,  who  in  gen- 
eral sustain  as  good  a  character,  as  to  their  morali- 
ty, preaching  and  personal  religion,  as  any  set  of 


HOW  263 

clergymen  whatever,  and  are  most  popular  where 
there  appears  to  be  the  most  attention  to  religion  : 
and  at  the  same  time  are  the  most  hated,  opposed 
and  spoken  against,  by  arminians,  deists  and  per- 
soris  who  have  no  religion."  We  may  allow  some- 
thing, perhaps,  for  his  own  prejudice  as  well  as  the 
prejudices  that  have  gone  out  against  them.  They 
certainly  may  reckon  in  their  number  some  of  the 
most  ingenious  and  celebrated  divines  of  our  coun- 
try.* 

Howard  Simeon,  D.  D.  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  A.  D.  1753.  Soon  after  receiving 
the  honours  of  that  seminary,  he  was  elected  to  the 
tutorship,  for  which  place  he  had  peculiar  qualifica- 
tions. He  was  an  excellent  scholar,  had  a  pleasant 
manner  of  giving  instruction,  and  mingled  conde- 
scending manners  with  a  proper  spirit  of  govern- 
ment. He  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  west 
church  in  Boston,  after  the  death  of  the  great  Dr. 
May  hew.  His  ordination  was  6th  of  May,  1768, 
and  for  a  course  of  years  he  diffused  his  light  for 
the  edification  of  a  people,  who  gave  him  lively  to- 
kens of  their  afiection,  and  to  whom  his  memory  is 
dear.  He  was  an  example  of  that  simplicity  and 
godly  sincerity  which  his  preaching  made  essential 
to  the  life  of  a  christian.  His  sermons  were  me- 
thodical, full  of  good  sentiments  and  judicious  re- 
marks ;  perspicuous  and  evangelical.     He  had  not 

*  His  various  publications  are  three  sermons,  Rom.  iii.  5,  6, 
"  sin  an  advantage  to  the  universe,  and  yet  this  no  excuse 
for  sin,  or  encouragement  to  it,"  1759  ;  "  an  inquiry  concerning 
the  promises  of  the  gospel,"  1765,  8vo.  ;  a  sermon  upon  "'  the 
high  and  glorious  character  of  Christ,"  Heb.  iii.  1,  1768  ;  a  ser-r 
mon  Rom.  vii.  7;  ditto  John  i.  13,  same  year.  The  true  state 
and  character  of  the  unregenerate,  Sec.  1769,  8vo.  ;  animadver- 
sions on  Mr.  Hart's  dialogue,  &c.  1770,  pamphlet,  31  pages; 
*'  an  inquiry  into  the  nature  of  true  holiness,  with  an  appendix 
containing  replies  to  Mr.  Hart,  Mr.  Mather,  Mr.  Hemmenway,'* 
1773  ;  "a dialogue  concerning  the  African  slavery,"  1776  ;  "an 
inquiry  concerning  the  future  state  of  the  wicked,"  1785  ;  '*  Bo*- 
^y  of  divinity,  2  vols.  8vo.  1793. 

Sketches  of  Dr.  Hopkins*  life,    Narl's  sermov. 


264  HOW 

the  striking  talents  which  draw  crowded  auditories, 
nor  an  ease  and  grace  in  delivery,  but  he  had  weight 
and  dignity  in  his  composition,  and  "  spoke  as  to 
wise  men."  Upon  certain  occasions  he  could  man« 
ifest  spirit  and  animation,  or  an  energy  which 
made  the  subject  interesting  and  arrested  attention. 
He  grew  in  reputation  as  he  advanced  in  years, 
which  is  a  remark  not  often  made  upon  ministers 
in  the  decline  of  life,  but  applies  to  the  character 
of  this  worthy  man. 

Dr.  Howard  was  a  member  of  many  societies  for 
the  promotion  of  learning,  piety  and  humanity.  Of 
several  he  was  an  active  and  useful  officer.  He  was 
fellow  of  Harvard  College,  from  the  year  17^0  to 
1804  ;  and  secretary  to  the  board  of  overseers.  A 
member  of  the  American  academy  of  arts  and  sci- 
ences ;  of  the  society  for  propagating  the  gospel 
among  Indians,  and  others,  in  North  America  ;  vice 
president  of  the  humane  society  ;  also  one  of  the 
counsellors  of  the  congregational  society  for  minis- 
ter's widows.  Whatever  he  undertook  he  per- 
formed with  fidelity  ;  wherever  he  was  known  he 
was  highly  esteemed.  He  died  August  12,  1804. 
President  Willard,  his  particular  friend,  preached 
a  discourse  the  afternoon  of  his  funeral.* 

Howe  Sir  William,  arrived  in  Boston  in  May, 
1775,  wdth  Generals  Burgoyne  and  Clinton,  to 
take  an  active  part  in  the  war.  The  British  troops, 
by  order  of  Gen.  Gage,  had  fought  Lexington  bat- 
tle, April  19.  He  began  his  military  exploits,  the 
next  month  after  his  arrival,  with  the  battle  of  Bun- 
ker hill.  He  never  made  any  further  progress  in 
Massachusetts.  In  March  177G,  he  departed  for  Hali- 
fax,  wiili  all  nis  forces ;  thence  he  went  to  N  ew- York, 
and  for  several  years  conducted  the  American  ^var. 

•  His  publications  were  few.  Tlioug-h  often  solicited  to  print 
Lis  discourses,  he  was  prevailed  upon  only  in  certain  instances  ; 
an  artillery  election  sermon,  1773  ;  the  election  sermon,  1779  ; 
a  sermon  alter  the  death  of  his  wife  ;  one  upon  t  .t  tteatli  of  Dr. 
Winthiop  of  Cambridge  j  and  a  discourse  addressed  to  the  free^ 
masons. 


HOW  265 

having  obtained  a  temporary  possession  of  Philadel- 
phia, he  embarked  for  England,  in  the  spring  of  1778, 
leaving  the  further  prosecution  of  the  war  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton. 

Gen.  Howe  succeeded  to  the  chief  command  of 
the  British  army  in  America,  on  the  departure  of 
gen.  Gage,  and  had  a  commission  to  be  governour 
of  the  province  of  Massachusetts. 

A  letter  from  gen.  Lee,  while  he  v\''as  a  prisoner 
at  New- York  gives  the  following  account  of  this 
officer. 

"  From  my  first  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Howe 
I  liked  him.  I  thought  him  friendly,  candid, 
good  natured,  brave  and  rather  sensible  than  oth- 
erwise ;  but  a  corrupt,  or  more  properly  no  edu- 
cation, the  reigning  idolatry  of  the  English,  espe- 
cially the  soldiery,  for  every  sceptred  calf,  wolf, 
hog  or  ass,  have  totally  perverted  his  understanding 
and  heart,  that  private  friendship  has  not  force  suf- 
fipient  to  keep  the  door  open  for  the  admittance  of 
mercy  towards  political  heretics.' — He  is  the  most 
indolent  of  mortals,  never  took  further  pains  to 
examine  the  merits  or  demerits  of  the  cause  in 
which  he  had  engaged,  than  merely  to  recollect  that 
Great  Britain  was  said  to  be  the  mother  country, 
George  the  third,  king  of  Great  Britain ;  that  the  Par- 
liament was  called  the  representative  of  Great  Bri- 
tain ;  that  the  king  and  parliament  formed  the  su- 
preme power  ;  that  a  supreme  power  is  absolute 
and  uncontroulable  ;  that  all  resistance  must  con- 
sequently be  rebellion  ;  but  above  all  he  was  a 
soldier  and  bound  to  obey  in  all  cases  whatever  ;  — 
these  were  his  notions,  and  this  his  logic. — Never 
poor  mortal  thrust  into  station,  was  surrounded  by 
such  fools  and  scoundrels,  McKenzie.  Balfour, 
Galloway,  were  his  counsellors,  they  urged  him 
to  all  his  acts  of  harshness,  they  were  his  scribes. 
All  the  vile  stuff  which  was  issued  to  the  as- 
tonished world  were  theirs.  I  believe  he  scarcely 
ever  read  the  letters  he  signed,     I  can   assure  vou 


266  HUB 

as  a  fact,  that  he  never  read  the  curious  proclama- 
tion issued  at  the  head  of  Elk,  till  three  days  after 
it  was  published.  He  is  naturally  good  humoured, 
complaisant,  but  illiterate,  indolent  to  the  last  de- 
gree, except  as  an  executive  soldier,  in  which 
capacity  he  is  all  fire  and  activity  ;  and  brave  and 
cool  as  Julius  Csesar.  His  understanding  is  rather 
good  than  otherw^ise,  but  was  utterly  confounded 
and  stupified  by  the  immensity  of  the  task  imposed 
on  him.  He  shut  his  eyes,  fought  his  battles,  drank 
his  bottle.  &c.  advised  with  his  counsellors,  receiv- 
ed his  orders  from  North  and  Germaine,  one  more 
abttuid  than  the  other,  took  Galloway's  opinion, 
shut  his  eyes,  fought  again,  and  I  suppose  is  now  to 
be  called  to  account  for  acting  according  to  his  in- 
structions. I  believe  his  eyes  are  now  opened,  and 
he  sees  he  has  been  an  instrument  of  wickedness 
and  folly  ^ 

Hubbard  William,  was  in  the  first  class  of 
graduates  at  Harvard  College,  1642.  In  the  book 
of  '•  Wonder  working  providences"  mention  is 
made  of  William  Hubbard,  one  of  the  representa- 

*  How  just  this  observation,when  we  consider  the  reception  he 
met  with  in  Great  Britain  !  Lord  Germaine  laid  all  the  ill  success 
of  the  campaign  in  1777  upon  him  ;  and  his  friend  Galloway  was 
the  chief  evidence  against  him.  Israel  Mauduit,  the  secretary  of 
Germaine,  was  also  employed  to  write  virulent  pamphlets  to  ren- 
der the  general's  character  odious.  Howe  had  advocates  in  the 
houee  of  commons  ;  his  old  friends  in  the  minority,  who  blamed 
him  for  serving  in  America,  took  his  part  against  the  minister  ; 
lord  Germaine*s  orders  and  instructions  were  the  subject  of  their 
phihppick,  and  they  were  powerful  enough  to  make  that  minister 
retire.  In  the  examination  before  the  house  of  commons,  how- 
ever, the  general's  conduct  did  not  appear  much  to  his  credit.  A 
man  may  make  an  excellent  captain  of  grenadiers,  who  has  no 
talents  to  command  an  army.  If  one  half  of  Galloway's  evidence 
were  true,  he  was  the  most  unfit  man  to  bring  America  into  sub- 
jection they  could  have  chosen.  What  is  a  liitle  remarkable,  a 
private  letter  of  a  British  officer  when  the  army  was  in  Boston, 
has  this  expression,  ''  Gen.  Howe  don't  seem  as  if  he  wanted  to 
conquer  America."  This  agrees  with  Galloway's  account, 
though  nothing  can  excuse  the  perfidy  of  that  man,  the  satellite 
of  the  minister  of  war,  whose  own  ignorance  and  gross  absurdi- 
ties^  were  more  glaring  than  gen.  Howe's. 


HUB  267 

tives  in  the  general  court,  from  the  town  of  Ipswich* 
It  is  said,  he  was  among  the  most  able  speakers  in 
the  assembly  1637.  One  gentleman  from  Salem 
was  allowed  to  be  more  fluent,  but  none  more  solid 
and  argumentative.  This  gentleman  is  supposed 
to  have  been  father  to  the  subject  of  this  article, 
who  was  teacher  of  the  church  in  Ipswich  till  his 
death.  The  year  of  his  ordination  I  have  never 
been  able  to  obtain ;  the  records  of  the  church 
of  Ipswich  not  being  preserved.  His  gravestone 
is  not  to  be  found,  and  none  of  the  present  gen- 
eration can  recollect  much  about  him.  The 
oldest  men  in  the  town,  who  tell  of  those  form- 
er divines  that  were  contemporary,  such  as 
Rogers,  Norton,  Cobbet,  Sec.  whose  manner  of 
preaching  they  have  heard  their  fathers  describe, 
have  no  impressions  made  upon  their  minds  of 
the  character  of  Mr.  Hubbard,  who  certainly 
was  for  many  vears  the  most  eminent  minister 
in  the  county  of  Essex  ;  equal  to  any  in  the 
province  for  learning  and  candour,  and  superiour 
to  all  his  contemporaries  as  a  writer.  Perhaps  he 
was  not  so  fervent  a  preacher  as  some.  He  might 
want  a  voice  and  manner,  or  that  animation  in  the 
pulpit  which  some  preachers  have,  and  which  will 
be  more  talked  of,  than  the  still  sound  of  wisdom. 
Or  perhaps  he  lived  too  long  for  his  reputation. 
When  a  man's  life  is  cut  short  in  the  midst  of  his 
days  and  usefulness,  the  excellencies  of  his  name 
and  character  are  the  subjects  of  remark  for  many 
generations.  If  another  continues  to  old  age,  and 
mental  imbecilities  succeed  the  more  vigorous  in- 
tellect, he  is  remembered  only  in  tlie  last  stage  of 
life,  and  he  drops  into  the  grave  without  emotions 
of  sorrow.  His  name  is  seldom  mentioned  in  the 
neighbourhood  where  he  dwelt;  but  those  at  a 
distance,  who  have  heard  of  his  fame  when  he  ap- 
peared upon  the  stage  with  engaging  virtue,  or  read 
his  works  with  delight,  wish  to  know  what  were 
tlie  more  minute  parts  of  his  character. 


268  HUB 

Whether  these  observations  apply  generally  or 
not,  they  certainly  apply  to  the  subject  of  this  me- 
moir. He  has  been  quoted  by  all  who  give  ac- 
counts of  New- England,  but  few,  very  few  notices 
of  him  are  in  the  records  of  the  town,  where  he 
spent  his  days.* 

In  the  year  1676  Mr.  Hubbard  preached  the 
election  sermon,  wiiich  is  among  the  very  good 
ones  published  during  that  century.  He  was  one  of 
the  seventeen  ministers  who  bore  testimony  against 
the  old  church  in  Boston,  when  they  settled  Mr. 
Davenport ;  also,  when  the  general  assembly  ap- 
proved of  the  act  of  the  first  church,  and  censured 
the  proceedings  of  the  third  church,  commonly 
called  the  Old  South.  The  division  excited  upon 
this  occasion  interested  the  passions  of  the  people 
at  large,  so  as  to  give  a  new  complexion  to  pub- 
lick  affairs.  Most  of  the  deputies,  who  had  so 
severely  censured  the  brethren  who  built  the  Old 
South  church,  for  their  spirit  of  inrjo'vatioti,  and 
Icaising  the  good  old  path  of  their  fathers^  were  left 
out,  and  new  members  chosen.  The  town  of  Ips- 
wich took  an  active  part  in  this  matter  ;  and  Mr, 
Hubbard's  influence  had  considerable  effect  upon 
their  proceedings. 

In  1682,  Mr.  Hubbard  is  brought  to  view  as  the 
historian  of  Massachusetts.  He  received  some  re- 
ward from  the  publick  for  his  useful  work.  The 
foUow^ing  vote  is  copied  from  the  records  of  the 
general  court,  October  11. 

"  Whereas  it  hath  been  thought  necessary  and  a 
duty  incumbent  upon  us^  to  take  due  notice  of  all 
occurrences  and  passages  of  God's  providence  to- 
wards the  people  of  this  jurisdiction,  since  their 
iirst  arrival  in  these  parts  w  hich  may  remain  to  pos- 
terity, and  that  the  rev.  Mr.  William  Hubbard  hath 
taken  pains  to  compile  a  history  of  this  nature, 
which  the  court  doth  with  thankfulness  acknowledge, 
and  as  a  manifestation  thereof,  do  hereby  order  the 

*  See  Mr.  Frisbie's  letters,  Hist.  Coll.  vol,  x.  page  35. 


HUN  ^6i; 

treasurer  to  pay  unto  him  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds 
in  money,  he  transcribing  it  fairly  into  a  book,  that 
it  may  be  the  more  easily  perused,  in  order  to  the 
satisfaction  of  this  court.'' 

In  1684  Mr.  Hubbard  presided  at  the  commence- 
ment. This  was  after  the  death  of  president  Ro- 
gers. But  though  Dr.  Increase  Mather  was  in  the 
neighbourhood,  tlie  Senatus  Academicus  saw  fit  to 
send  for  a  minister  from  the  county  of  Essex  ;  so 
respectable  was  his  character  among  the  literary 
men  of  his  profession. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Hubbard  were  not  very 
numerous.  They  consist  of  several  volumes  in 
duodecimo  ;  of  which  arc  a  narrative  of  the  In- 
dian wars  ;  Memoirs  of  major  gen.  Dennison,  Sec. 
But  his  chief  attention  was  paid  to  his  ms.  history, 
which  was  composed  upon  the  plan  of  Winthrop's 
journal.  For  some  reason  or  other  neither  of  these 
mss.  were  permitted  to  be  seen  by  the  publick,  till 
lately  the  journal  has  been  printed.  In  all  his  his- 
tories Mr.  Hubbard  appears  a  steady  friend  to  the 
constitution  of  the  churches.  He  expressed  indig- 
nant feelings  at  the  erection  of  the  church  in  Brattle- 
street;  upon  a  more  liberal  plan  than  our  fathers 
were  willing  to  adopt. 

There  is  nothing  of  this  said  in  his  ms.  history, 
which  only  comes  down  to  1680,  but  he  speaks 
pointedly  in  his  private  letters  to  several  gentlemen, 
and  in  the  last  thing  he  published,  his  Dying  testi- 
mony to  the  order  of  the  churches,  which  he  wrote 
jointly  with  Mr.  Higginson  of  Salem.  He  died 
Sept.  24th,  1704,  aged  83. 

Huntington  Samuel,  governour  of  Connecti- 
cut, was  the  son  of  Nathaniel  Huntington,  esq.  of 
Windham,  and  descended  from  an  honourable  and 
respectable  family.  His  early  years  were  distin- 
guished by  indications  of  an  excellent  understand- 
ing and  a  taste  for  mental  improvement.  Without 
the  advantage  of  an  education  at  any  university,  or 
the  assistance  of  professional  studies,  he  acquired  a 


270  HUM 

competent  knowledge  of  law,  and  having  fixed  at 
Norwich,  he  in  a  few  years  became  eminent  in  his 
profession.  In  1764,  he  was  a  representative  to  the 
general  assembly,  and  the  year  following  attorney- 
general.  In  1774,  he  was  appointed  assistant  judge 
in  the  superiour  court.  In  1775,  he  was  elected  a 
counsellor  and  a  delegate  to  congress.  In  1779, 
he  was  president  of  that  illustrious  body.  When 
the  time  expired  for  which  he  was  chosen  into  the 
national  councils,  he  resumed  his  seat  upon  the 
bench.  In  1784  he  was  appointed  chief  justice  of 
the  state  and  lieut.  governour.  He  succeeded  gov. 
Griswold  as  chief  magistrate  in  1786,  and  w^as  an- 
nually re-elected  until  his  death,  Jan.  8.  1796. 

*'  His  natural  disposition  was  mild  and  amiable, 
the  whole  tenor  of  his  conversation  ingratiating  and 
exemplary.  The  prosperity  of  the  state  during  his 
administration,  the  flourishing  condition  of  its  civil 
and  military  interests,  are  unequivocal  testimonies 
of  the  wisdom  and  fidelity  with  which  he  presided. 

As  a  professor  of  religion,  a  constant  attendant 
upon  the  institutions  of  Christianity,  he  manifested 
an  unvarying  faith  in  its  doctrines  and  joyful  hopes 
in  its  promises." 

The  governour  left  no  children.  Mrs,  H.  died, 
June  4,  1794,  in  the  56th  year  of  her  age.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  the  rev.  Ebenezer  Devotion  of 
Windham.     Strong"* s  sermon, 

Humphrey  John  was  early  engaged  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  New  England  plantations.  He  was  one 
of  the  original  patentees  irom  the  coui>cil  of  Ply- 
mouth. He  married  the  lady  Susan,  daugliter  to 
the  earl  of  Lincoln,  and  brought  her  with  their  chil- 
dren to  Massachusetts  bay  in  1632;  and  was  im- 
mediately chosen  assistant.  He  fixed  his  habita- 
tion at  Lynn,  or  Saugus.  The  spot  of  ground 
which  he  cultivated  lies  on  the  old  road  between 
Boston  and  Salem.  In  1640,  he  was  about  remov- 
ing to  the  Bahama  islands,  but  altered  his  purpose 
upon  hearing  that  New  Providence  was  taken  by 


HUT  271 

the  Spaniards.  Having  met  with  some  losses  by- 
fire,  and  his  estate  being  otherwise  impaired,  he  re- 
turned to  England.  Lady  Moody  purchased  his 
plantation  at  Saugus.*     Hutchinson, 

Hutchinson  Thomas,  governour  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  was  a  descendant  from  one  of  the  most 
ancient  and  honourable  families  in  New  England. 
Several  of  the  name  held  offices  of  honour  and  trust 
under  the  old  charter  ;  others  were  of  his  majesty's 
council  under  the  charter  of  William  and  xMary. 
The  hon,  Thomas  Hutchinson,  esq.  father  of  the 
governour,  a  distinguished  merchant  of  Boston,  was 
colonel  of  the  first  regiment  in  Suffolk,  and  a  coun- 
sellor from  1714  to  1739,  the  year  of  his  death.  He 
was  the  man  who  seized  the  famous  capt.  Kidd 
when  he  resisted  the  officers  of  justice  sent  to  arrest 
him.  His  son  gives  a  brief  delineation  of  his  cha- 
racter in  saying  '*  I  wish  that  many  of  his  posterity 
may  so  justly  deserve  the  character  of  true  friends 
to  their  country.  Regardless  of  the  frowns  of  a 
governour,  or  the  threats  of  the  people,  he  spoke 
and  voted  according  to  his  judgment,  attaching 
himself  to  no  party  any  further  than  he  found  their 
measures  tend  to  the  publick  interest."  Col.  Hutch- 
inson left  several  children.  Neither  of  them  dis- 
covered talents  or  ambition  except  the  eldest,  who 
is  the  subject  of  this  memoir.  This  gentleman 
passed  through  strange  vicissitudes ;  at  one  time 
he  was  the  most  popular  character  in  Massachusetts, 
at  another  the  object  of  publick  abhorrence. 

Mr.  H.  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education 
at  the  north  grammar  school,  and  was  admitted  into 
Harvard  College  when  he  was  only  12  years  of  age. 
His  progress  in  literature  was  the  subject  of  notice 
and  applause.     In  1727  he  was  graduated;  but  in- 

•  This  lady  made  herself  notorious  in  the  early  settlement  of 
the  country.  She  was  member  of  the  church  in  Salem,  but  ve- 
ry soon  renounced  infant  baptism.  She  was  admonished,  and 
still  persisted  in  her  opinion.  To  avoid  further  trouble  she  re- 
moved to  one  of  the  Dutch  plantations. 


272  HUT 

stead  of  following  his  studies  and  entering  one  of  the 
professions,  as  was  expected,  he  applied  himself  to 
merchandize.  It  seemed  to  be  the  most  ardent  de- 
sire of  his  soul  to  acquire  property.  Ambition  and 
avarice  frequently  agitate  the  same  breast ;  and  he 
might  attach  an  importance  of  character  to  wealth, 
which  would  enable  him  to  gain  any  distinction  he 
wanted  as  he  advanced  in  life.  He  did  not  succeed 
in  his  commercial  pursuits,  but  rather  diminished 
than  augmented  to  his  patrimony*  His  fellow  towns- 
men regarded  him  more  for  his  probity  and  honour 
than  for  his  mercantile  skill ;  they  thought  him  ca- 
pable  of  transacting  publick  business,  and  by  their 
favour  he  was  stimulated  to  bend  his  mind  wholly 
to  the  study  of  history  and  political  constitutions. 
He  was  chosen  a  selectman  of  Boston  in  1738,  and 
conducted  with  so  much  prudence  and  fidelity,  that 
he  was  appointed  by  the  town  their  agent  to  man- 
age very  important  business  in  Great  Britain,  which 
he  undertook,  and  settled  to  their  satisfaction. 
When  he  returned  from  London,  he  was  chosen  one 
of  the  representatives  of  Boston  for  the  general 
court,  and  was  annually  elected  to  the  same  office, 
till  he  was  advanced  to  the  council  board.  In  the 
house  of  representatives  he  acquired  great  reputa- 
tion. He  had  the  charms  of  oratory  beyond  any 
man  in  the  assembly.  There  was  equal  fluency  and 
pathos  in  his  manner;  he  could  be  argumentative 
and  smooth.  He  was  active,  diligent,  plausible, 
and  upon  all  occasions  seemed  to  be  influenced  by 
public  spirit  more  than  selfish  considerations.  Some 
who  admired  him  for  his  good  qualities  were  after- 
wards  of  a  different  opinion,  and  wondered  how  he 
could  conceal  his  views  under  the  veil  of  hypocrisy, 
or  with  the  mask  of  dissimulation.  In  1747  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  ;  but  had  the  same  in- 
fluence among  the  members  as  when  he  led  in  their 
debates.  At  this  period  the  country  was  much 
embarrassed  by  the  publick  debt.  The  nominal 
value  of  which  was  above  2,000,000  poundS;  and 


HUT  273 

the  provision  made  for  redeeming  it  leas  than 200,000 
pounds.     All  classes  of  people,  except  speculators^ 
suffered  beyond  description.     Especially  the  cler. 
gy,  and  widows,  or  orphans,  whose  paternal  inher- 
itance had  been  sunk  by  the  depreciation  of  current 
money.     All  complained,  but  none  could  suggest 
a  method  to  do  justice,   till  Mr.  H.  pointed  out  a 
way  of  serving  the  publick,  which  made  him  con- 
ceive himself  to  be  the  prince  of  politicians.     The 
*' abolition  of  old   tenor,'' and  *' introduction  of  a 
fixed  currency, ''  he  relates   in  his  history  without 
sparing  any  account  of  his  own  exertions.  He  pro- 
posed the  plan  to  gov.  Shirley,  who  approved  it  \ 
He  then  offered  the  same  to  the  members  of  the 
house,   who  were  too  shortsighted  to  comprehend 
it !  Oat  of  respect  to  the  speaker,  they  appointed  % 
committor  to  examine  what  it  might  be  !  The  plan, 
however,   which  their  most  experienced  members 
were  disposed  to  reject,  which  the  most  politick 
thought  ridiculous,    which  seemed  impracticable 
by  men  engaged  in  commerce,  was  at  last  by  his 
exertions  adopted,  and  found  upon  trial  to  be  wise 
and  judicious.     The  monster  of  frightful  mein  was 
soon  changed  to  the  fair  form  of  benevolence,  hold- 
ing in  her  hands  the  fruits  of  industry  ;  or  riches  to 
individuals,   and  honour  to  the  community.     The 
bill  passed  in  the  year  1749.     At  the  succeeding 
election,  Mr.  H.  w^as  chosen  a  member  of  his  ma- 
jesty's council ;  but  was  still  an  advocate  for  the 
cause  of  the  people  on  some  occasions,  though  gen- 
erally on  the  side  of  prerogative.     When  the  ex- 
cise act  passed  the  house  of  representatives,  and 
was  confirmed  by  the  council,    Mr.  Hutchinson, 
with  that  excellent  man,  chief  justice  Sewall,  op- 
posed it  with  all  their  influence.     In  the  p^imphlet 
called  **  the  monster  of  monsters,"  which  was  a  sa- 
tirical description  pf  the  speeches  njade  upon  the 
excise  act  in  the  general  court,  Hutchinson  is  char- 
acterised as  the  friend  of  liberty.      He  is  styled 
Maclsime  Qracghia  :    for  the  assembly  is  §vppQse4 

n  m 


274,  H  U  T 

to  consist  of  ladies,  old  and  young,  orators  lair  faced 
and  fair  spoken,  with  a  goodly  number  of  scolds. 
The  act  was  so  unpopular  that  Shirley  negatived  it, 
though  it  was  well  known  that  in  his  heart  he  ap^ 
proved  the  thing.  Mr.  H.  maintained  his  popularity 
some  years  alter  this.  He  was  then  judge  of  pro- 
bate, having  succeeded  his  uncle  Edward  Hutchin- 
son,  who  died  in  1752.  His  conduct  in  this  office 
had  endeared  him  to  many.  He  was  tender  and 
compassionate,  had  a  generous  sympathy  with  the 
children  of  affliction,  and  often  wiped  the  tear  from 
the  eye  of  the  mourner  In  1758,  he  was  appoint- 
ed lieut.  governour,  which  gave  pleasure  to  all 
classes  of  people :  his  deportment  gave  him  a 
further  interest  in  their  affections.  He  was  affable 
and  condescending  in  his  manners,  yet  upon  pub- 
lick  occasions  he  appeared  with  great  dignity,  and 
stepped  with  majesty  and  grace.  In  1760,  he  was 
appointed  chief  justice.  This  raised  a  popu- 
lar clamour  :  it  gave  offence  especially  to  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  families  of  the  province,  who  had 
merited  a  large  share  of  the  publick  esteem.  The 
branches  of  this  family  were  high  whigs ;  one  of 
'  them  had  been  promised  a  seat  on  the  bench  the 
first  vacancy,  and  now  saw  his  expectations  frus- 
trated. They  shook  the  rods  of  their  wrath  against 
all  who  were  in  the  government,  and  threaten- 
ed the  man  who  was  the  mstrument  of  their  disap- 
pointment.* 

*  The  29th  day  of  April,  177 5^  the  writer  of  this  memoir  pass- 
ed the  afternoon  with  the  late  venerable  judge  Trowbridge  at  his 
house  in  Cambridge.  It  was  a  time  of  very  earnest  and  anxious 
expectation.  The  judge  made  this  observation  after  a  very  sol- 
emn pause  ;     "  It  was  a  most  unhappy  thing  that  Mr.  H.  wa* 

ever  chief  justice  of  our  court.  What  O said,  *  that  he  would 

set  the  province  in  flames,  if  he  perished  by  the  fire,'  has  come 
to  pass.  He,  poor  man  I  suffers  ;  and  what  are  we  coming  to  ? 
I  thought  little  of  it  at  the  time.  I  made  every  exertion  in  favour 
of  Mr.  H.  and  think  now  he  was  the  best  man  to  be  there,  if  the 
people  had  been  sati&fied,  and  he  had  never  looked  beyond  it.  But 
I  now  think  it  was  unliappy  for  us  all.  And  I  fully  believe  this 
war  would  have  been  put  off  many  years,  if  gov.  H.  had  not  been 


HUT  275 

In  1760,  Pownall  left  the  province,  and  Hutchin- 
Bon  presided  as  chief  magistrate.  His  ambition 
was  gratified.  His  influence  was  used  to  advance 
his  relations  to  places  of  profit,  some  of  them  to 
honourable  stations,  for  which  they  were  not  quali- 
fied. His  ruling  passions  often  biassed  his  judgment, 
and  stimulated  him  to  act  a  part  injurious  to  him- 
self, as  well  as  prejudicial  to  the  province.  At  one 
time  he  held  the  places  of  lieut.  governour,  coun- 
sellor, judge  of  probate,  chief  justice,  &c.  These 
offices,  with  his  own  property,  would  enable  him  to 
live  handsomely  in  the  style  of  a  gentleman.  But 
he  wanted  to  be  rich.  High  life  has  its  charms,  and 
he  wished  to  give  a  splendour  to  his  station.  This 
will  account  for  certain  [peculiarities  in  his  conduct, 
which  brought  upon  him  the  charge  of  profusion 
and  meanness. 

The  friends  of  gov,  Pownall  were  enemies  to 
Hutchinson.  The  patriots  of  Boston  hailed  Pow- 
nall as  their  friend,  because  he  was  a  whig.  A  club 
of  sturdy  whigs,  who  met  at  the  battery  in  the  nor- 
thern section  of  the  town,  endeavoured  to  render  the 
administration  of  his  predecessor  odious.  It  was 
said  the  governour  was  sometimes  seen  amidst  this 
merry  association.  It  is  certain  that  they  were 
frequently  visited  by  friends  of  a  higher  order, 
when  certain  points  were  to  be  carried  in  town 
meeting.  At  other  times  they  admitted  into  their 
company  many  of  the  lower  class,  whose  tongues 
had  no  bridle,  v/hen  Hutchinson  and  Shirley  were 
to  be  aspersed. 

While  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  on  the  bench  of 
judges  he  performed  his  duty  so  well,  that  his  man- 
ner of  getting  the  place  was  forgotten.  He  was  so 
much  a  favourite  with  the  house  of  representatives, 

made  chief  justice  l"  He  spoke  of  Hutchinson  as  a  man  of  great 
abihties,  who  could  fit  himself  in  a  very  little  time  for  any  busi- 
ness ;  and  told  likewise  how  their  friendship  was  broken  off, 
which  manifested  that  gov.  H.  could  be  guilty  of  mean  resent- 
jnent,  and  soi^did  ingratitude? 


276  HUT 

in  the  year  1763,  that  they  chose  him  agent  to  the 
court  of  Great  Britain,  In  this  election  he  had  all 
the  votes  of  both  houses  except  eight. 

The  state  of  our  affairs,  at  that  period,  was  criti- 
cal. Jasper  Mauduit  was  unequal  to  the  bu^ness 
assigned  him.  BoUan  was  left  out  of  the  agency , 
though  every  way  capable  and  assiduous,  because 
he  was  an  episcopalian ;  Mauduit  was  a  dissenter, 
but  more  pious  than  judicious  ;  he  looked  upon  the 
most  important  concerns  of  Massachusetts  with 
frigid  indifference,  except  his  2eal  was  excited 
to  convert  Indians ;  his  brother  was  also  the 
tool  of  the  ministry.  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  prevent- 
ed going, by  the  advice  of  Bernard,  till  he  could  ob- 
tain permission  to  leave  the  province,  of  which  he 
was  lieut.  governour.  He  wrote  to  lord  Halifax, 
who  complied  with  his  request.  But  then  the  tide 
of  his  influence  had  turned,  the  popular  gale  was 
changed,  and  the  general  court  voted  not  to  send 
an  agent.  He  was  sorely  mortified,  but  his  friends 
could  not  help  him ;  and  his  enemies  rejoiced  at 
the  effect  it  had  upon  him.  They  had  exerted 
themselves,  totis  viribus,  to  persuade  the  general 
court,  that  he  was  a  man  of  arbitrary  notions,  and 
would  seek  his  own  aggrandizement  more  than  th« 
advantage  of  his  constituents. 

The  next  year  the  stamp  act  passed  the  British 
parliament.  Secretary  Oliver  was  stamp  master  in 
Boston.  His  office  was  pulled  down,  August  14, 
1765,  the  day  the  act  was  to  be  in  force.  Mr.  H. 
being  his  brother  in  law,  was  also  the  object  of  po- 
litical animosity  ;  riots  increased  till  the  town  was 
completely  under  the  influence  of  a  mob,  whose 
fierce  spirits  were  let  loose  to  do  mischief. 

The  house  of  the  lieut.  governour  was  torn  to 
pieces  within  a  fortnight  of  the  first  lawless  attack 
upon  the  secretary.  This  excited  the  attention  of 
the  friends  of  order.  The  militia  were  called  out 
the  next  evening,  and  they  put  a  stop  to  all  riotous 
proceedings^     But  those  who  were  active  in  doing 


HUT  ^77 

the  mischief  were  never  called  to  account  by  the 
civil  authority.  There  was  a  publick  grant  to  Mr. 
H.  of  jf. 3194  17s.  6d.  and  to  other  sufferers  in  pro- 
portion. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  grew  still  more  unpopular  the 
ensuing  years*  He  had  many  friends,  however, 
who  never  could  harbour  an  ill  thought  of  him  till 
his  letters  were  published, which  he  sent  to  England, 
wherein  he  advised,  that  "  colonial  privileges  should 
be  abridged.''  He  always  declared  to  these  friends 
that  his  sentiments  were  contrary.  Among  them 
were  clergymen  of  great  respectability,  and  many 
sober-minded  citizens.  They  believed  him  a  friend 
to  the  province,  as  well  as  to  the  New  England 
churches.  He  read  to  them  letters,  which  he-  wrote 
in  favour  of  the  people,  and  against  the  arbitrary 
measures  of  the  British  court.  But  this  was  a  mere 
artifice,  and  made  his  character  more  odious  after  it 
was  fully  discovered. 

On  the  evening  of  the  5th  of  March,  1770,  when 
a  party  of  British  soldiers  fired  upon  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Boston,  he  had  a  most  difficult  business  to 
manage  ;  but  he  behaved  with  so  much  discretion 
in  his  advice  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
troops,  and  his  address  to  the  people,  that  his  ene- 
mies could  not  speak  a  word  against  him,  with  all 
their  violence  against  the  soldiers.  His  prudence 
calmed  the  tumult  of  the  people. 

In  1771,  Mr.  H.  received  his  commission,  ai 
governour  of  Massachusetts  bay,  and  from  this  time 
jhe  became  completely  subservient  to  the  views  of 
the  British  ministry.  He  entered  into  a  controversy 
with  the  general  court,  in  which  he  asserted  and  en- 
deavoured to  prove  the  right  of  the  British  parlia- 
ment to  tax  America.  In  this  he  did  not  succeed 
0s  he  expected.  It  was  evident  that  the  manage- 
ment of  the  argument  was  superiour  on  the  other 
side,  and  it  was  said  the  ministry,  instead  of  being 
pleased,  were  rather  disgusted,  that  he  should  make 
it  a  subject  bf  controversy.      It  was  a  thing  to  be 


2n  HUT 

taken  for  granted  ;  not  to  be  discussed.  Whoever 
reads  the  newspapers,  from  1771  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  may  get  a  good  idea  of  Hutchin- 
son's  character.  He  had  his  eulogists  in  the  Ga- 
zette or  Newsletter ;  and  the  writings  on  the  other 
side  of  the  most  respectable  class  were  in  the  Bos- 
ton  Gazette,  signed  Marchmont  Nedham,  or  No- 
^anglus.  The  first  were  supposed  to  flow  from  the 
pen  of  Mr.  Quincy,  a  lawyer  of  great  abilities  and 
eloquence,  who  unhappily  for  his  country  lived  but 
a  short  time  after.  I'hc  letters  from  Novanglus 
•were  written  by  one  of  the  greatest  statesmen  this 
or  any  country  has  produced.*  Gov.  Hutchinson 
was  superseded  by  gen.  Gage,  in  1774,  and  on  his 

*Novanglus,  »vho  knew  Hutchinson  completely)  thus  describes 
him  (Boston  Gazette,  Feb.  20,  177S.)  "That  Hutchinson  was 
amiable  and  exemplary  in  some  respects,  and  very  unamiable 
and  uuexemplary  in  others,  is  certain  truth,  otherwise  he  never 
would  have  retained  so  much  popularity  on  the  one  hand,  nop 
made  so  pernicious  a  use  of  it  on  the  other.  His  behaviour  in 
several  important  offices  was  with  fidelity  and  integrity  in  cases 
"Which  did  not  affect  his  polrtical  system,  but  he  bent  all  his  offices 
to  that.  Had  he  continued  steadfast  to  those  principles  in  religion 
and  government  which  he  professed  in  former  life,  and  which 
alone  had  secured  him  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  all  his 
importance,  he  would  have  lived  and  died  respected  and  belovedi 
and  done  honour  to  his  native  country.  But  by  renouncing  those 
principles  and  that  conduct  which  had  made  him  and  all  his  an- 
cestors respectaWe,  his  character  is  now  considered  by  all  Amer- 
ica, and  the  best  part  of  the  three  kingdoms  (notwithstanding  the 
countenance  he  has  received  from  the  ministry)  as  a  man  who 
by  all  liis  actions  aimed  at  making  himself  great  at  the  expense  of 
the  liberties  of  his  native  country.  He  was  open  to  flattery  to 
such  a  remarkable  degree  that  any  who  would  flatter  him  were 
sure  of  his  friendship  ;  and  every  one  who  would  not  was  sure  of 
his  enmity.  He  was  credulous  in  a  ridiculous  degree  of  every 
thing  which  favoured  his  own  plans,  and  equally  incredulous  of 
every  thing  which  made  against  him.  His  natural  and  acquired 
abilities  were  certainly  above  the  common  standard,  but  were 
greatly  exaggerated  by  persons  whom  he  had  admitted  to  power. 
His  industry  was  prodigious,  and  his  knowledge  lay  chiefly  in  the 
laws,  politicks  and  history  of  this  province,  of  which  he  had  long 
experience,  yet  with  all  his^advantages,  he  never  was  master  of 
the  true  character  of  his  native  country,  nor  even  of  New  Englanjcjj 
^d  the  Massachusetts  Bay. 


HUT  279 

arrival  at  Boston,  he  embarked  for  England.  He 
was  called  to  give  an  account  of  his  administration, 
or  to  describe  the  state  of  the  colonies,  which  he 
did  in  such  a  manner  as  met  the  views  and  designs 
of  the  British  cabinet,  who  took  him  ijito  high  fa- 
vour, and  made  him  giddy  with  vain  expectation^ 
Two  instances,  which  show  the  imbecility  of  a  mind 
once  strong  and  vigorous,  and  also  how  ignorant 
a  wise  man  may  become,  who  neglects  pure  sources 
of  information,  shall  be  here  related.  The  writer 
of  this  article  vouches  for  their  authenticity. 

The  governours  Hutchinson,  Carlton  and  Tryon 
were  called  upon  for  their  opinion  upon  the  ques- 
tion about  going  to  war  with  America.  Mr.  H. 
said  that  the  people  would  not,  with  their  armies,  re- 
sist the  authority  and  power  of  Great  Britain.  *  *  That 
a  few  troops  would  be  sufficient  to  quell  them  if 
they  did  make  opposition."  Gen.  Carlton  spake 
to  this  purpose,  •'  that  America  might  easily  be  con- 
quered, but  they  would  want  a  considerable  army 
for  their  purpose.  That  he  would  not  pretend  to 
march  to  New  York  or  Boston  with©ut  10,000 
men."  Tryon,  said,  "  it  would  take  large  armies 
and  much  time  to  bring  America  to  their  feet.  The 
power  of  Great  Britain  was  equal  to  anything  ^  but 
all  that  power  must  be  exerted  before  they  put  the 
monster  in  chains." 

Another  thing  is  a  proof  of  the  vanity  of  his  mind. 
He  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Boston  that  his  services 
were  so  acceptable  to  his  majesty's  ministers,  that 
he  was  to  have  a  peerage.  He  observed  on  his  own 
part  how  small  his  estate  was,  that  he  could  never 
appear  in  the  character  of  a  peer  of  the  realm.  But 
was  told  the  honour  would  be  accompanied  with 
such  lucrative  appendages  as  would  banish  all  con- 
cern  of  this  kind  from  his  mind.  His  advice  was 
followed  at  the  beginning  of,  the  war.  The  battle 
of  Bunker  hill  convinced  the  army  of  Britain,  that 
the  Americans  would  fight,  a^^  the  capture  of  bur- 
goyne  opened  the  eyes  of  the  ministry  as  well  as  of 


SgO  I  A  M 

the  nation.     Hutchinson  lived  retired  at   Bromp<. 
ton.      He  received  no  mark  of  honour  from   the 
court ;    his  literary  friends  visited  him  ;    he   often 
made  dinners  at  which  were  assembled  the  Ameri- 
can  loyalists  and  others  attached  to  the  same  cause. 
In  the  spring  of  the  year,    1780,  he  was  taken  ill 
after  returning  from  a  journey.     His  feelings   had 
been  deeply  wounded  by  the  death  of  a  most  amia- 
ble  daughter,  and  of  his  youngest  son.     Each  had 
pulmonary  complaints,  to  which  he  was  also  sub- 
ject.     The  daughter  died,  Sept.  21,  1771 ;  his  son 
William,  FeBi|^0,  1780.  The  father  soon  followed; 
he  was  very  sick  from  the  beginning  of  April,  and 
died  June  Sd  of  the  same  year.     He  was  buried  on 
the  9th  at  Croyden  ;  Charles  Paxton,  Mr.  Clarke, 
and  the  rev.  Dr.  Chandler  were  three  of  his  bear- 
ers.    He  left  no  other  works  than  those  which  he 
published  in  America.     His  history  of  Massachu- 
setts is  a  most  valuable  collection  of  facts,  but  wants 
the  style  of  an  historian.      It  is  sufficiently  known 
to  excuse  our  saying  any  thing  more  of  it. 

James,  REV.  Mr.  pastor  of  the  church  in  Charles- 
town,  arrived  in  New  England  in  1652.  He  was  of 
Lincolnshire,  Great  Britain.  He  was  invited  to  take 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  church  in  Charlestown  in  the 
place  of  Mr.  Wilson.  Soon  after  his  settlement, 
Mr.  Zachary  Symmes  was  chosen  teacher  of  this 
church.  He  came  over,  in  1634,  with  Mr.  Lathrop, 
and  has  left  a  name  recorded  among  the  worthies  of 
the  land.  Mr,  James'  reputation  is  more  clouded. 
He  was  involved  in  some  disputes  with  the  people 
of  his  society,  which  ended  in  his  separation.  Dif- 
ferent accounts  are  given  of  his  conduct,  and  per- 
haps blame  may  be  attached  to  both  parties.  John* 
son  says,  '*  seeds  of  prejudices  were  sown  against 
him  by  the  enemies  of  the  work  of  the  Lord."  Gov- 
ernour  Winthrop  relates  the  affair  differently :  "  The 
teacher,  Mr.  Symmes,  and  most  of  the  brethren  had 
taken  offence  at  divers  speeches  of  his,  he  being  a 
melancholy  man,  and  full  pf  causeless  jealoysies^ 


JOH  231 

&c.  for  which  they  had  dealt  with  him  both  m  pub- 
lick  and  private.  But  receiving  no  satisfaction,  they 
wrote  to  all  the  neighbouring  churches  for  advice 
and  help  in  this  case,  who  sending  chosen  men 
(most  elders)  they  met  on  the  4th  day  of  the  first 
month,  1635  ;  and  finding  the  pastor  very  faulty, 
yet  because  they  had  not  dealt  with  him  in  due  or- 
der, (for  of  two  witnesses  adduced  one  was  the 
accuser)  they  advised,  that  if  they  could  not  com- 
fortably close,  himself,  and  such  as  stood  on  his 
part  ,  if  they  would)  should  desire  dismission,  which 
should  be  granted  them,  for  awarding  extremities  ;* 
but  if  he  persisted,  &c.  the  church  should  cast  him 
out  I  1  He  went  to  New-Haven,  and  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days. 

Johnson  Isaac,  was  the  son  of  Abraham  John-, 
son,  esq.  of  Clipsham,    in  the  county  of  Rutland^ 
Great  Britain.     He  may  be  called  the  father  of  Bos- 
ton, as  it  was  he  who  persuaded  gov.  Winthrop  and 
the  company  to  cross  over  the   south  side  of  the 
river  Charles.     He  was  the  richest  man  of  all  the 
planters,  and  Was  filled  with  pious  zeal  to  encourage 
the  plantation.     The  affairs    of  the   company  were 
committed  to  five  persons  in  England,  and  five  who 
were  going   over  to  the  new   settlement.      Those 
last  mentioned,  were  Winthrop,  Dudley,  Johnson, 
Saltonstall,   and  Revel.      The    confidence,    which 
the  whole  corporation   had  in  Mr.  Johnson,  is  evi- 
dent from  their  electing  him  one  of  the  referees  in 
the  dispute  between  J.  and  S.  Brown,  and  capt» 
Endicot   1629.     The  Browns   complained   of  the 
abuse  they  had  received  at  Naumkeake,  and  de- 
manded damages.     It  does  not  appear  how  the  dis- 
pute was  settled  ;  but  it  appears,  that  John  Win- 
throp, and  Isaac  Johnson,  together  with  two  cler- 
gymen, the  rev.  Mr.  White,    and  J.    Davenport, 
were  chosen  to  meet  with  four  on   tlie  other  side, 
who  were  to  finish  the  business.       Mr.  J.    built 
his  house  upon  a  hill  in  Boston.     Tremont  street 
passes  by   it.      He  was  a  man  greatly   beloved. 
N  n 


^2  J  OH 

Had  he  lived  he  would  have  been  among  the  most 
distinguished  characters  of  Massachusetts;  but  he 
died,  September  20,  1630,  about  two  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  death  of  such  a  man  spread  a  melan- 
choly paleness  upon  every  countenance.  '*  He  was 
a  holy  man  and  wise,"  says  gov.  Winthrop,  "  and 
died  in  sweet  peace,  leaving  a  part  of  his  substance 
to  the  colon)'."  Before  his  death,  he  expressed 
his  joy  to  sec  a  church  of  Christ  gathered  in  Amer- 
ica, and  was  buried,  at  his  own  request,  in  part  of 
the  ground  on  Tremontane,  which  is  between 
school  street  and  court  street.  The  people  mani- 
fested their  attachment,  by  ordering  their  bodies  to 
be  buried  near  him,  as  they  died.  It  has  continued 
a  burial  ground  ever  since*  He  died  without  chil- 
dren. He  married  the  lady  Arabella,  daughter  of 
the  earl  of  Lincoln.  This  virtuous  woman  died  a 
short  time  before  her  husband.  She  was  taken  sick 
at  Salem.  Among  others  that  were  seized  with 
mortal  sickness,  says  Mr.  Hubbard,  was  the  lady 
Arabella,  wife  of  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson,  who  possibly 
had  not  taken  the  counsel  of  our  saviour,  *'  to  set 
down  and  consider  what  the  cost  would  be  after  she 
began  to  build.  For  coming  from  a  paradise  of 
plenty  and  pleasure,  which  she  enjoyed  in  the  fam- 
ily of  a  noble  earldome,  into  a  wilderness  of  wants, 
it  proved  too  strong  a  temptation  for  her,  so  as  the 
virtues  of  her  mind  were  not  able  to  stem  the  tide 
of  the  many  adversities  of  her  outward  condition, 
which  she  soon  saw  after  her  arrival,  she  was  sur- 
rounded with,  for  which  she  in  a  short  time  after 
ended  her  days  at  Salem,  where  she  first  landed, 
and  was  soon  after  solemnly  interred,  as  the  condi- 
tion of  those  times  would  bear,  leaving  her  hus- 
band (a  worthy  gentleman  of  note  for  piety  and 
wisdom)  a  sorrowful  mourner,  and  so  overwhelm- 
ed in  a  flood  of  tears  and  grief,  that  about  a  month 
after,  they  carried  him  after  her  into  another  world." 
In  his  will,  which  he  made  in  England,  he  left 
%  great  number  of  legacies  to  his  friends,  and  to 


JO  H  28S 

pious  and  charitable  uses*  To  Mr.  Cotton  from 
whom,  to  the  praise  of  God's  grace,  he  acknowl- 
edges he  had  received  much  comfort  and  help  in 
his  spiritual  estate,  he  gave  30  pounds  and  a  gown 
cloth.  The  advowson  and  right  of  patronage  of  the 
parish  church  of  Clipsham,  he  gave  to  Mr.  Dudley 
and  Mr.  Cotton.  He  limited  his  funeral  charges  to 
250  pounds.  A  small  part  of  this  charge  sufficed  to 
bury  him  in  Boston.  Here  many  scattered  bless- 
ings upon  his  grave,  and  bedewed  it  with  tears  of 
friendship,  while  their  minds  were  soothed  with  the 
sweet  remembrance  of  his  virtues.  Hutchinson. 
Hubbard^s  mss. 

Johnson  Samuel,  president  of  King's  College, 
New  York,  was  born  at  Guilford,  Connecticut,  of 
very  worthy  parents.  In  his  puerile  years  he  dis- 
covered a  lively  fancy,  a  thirst  for  knowledge,  and 
improved  every  opportunity  to  cultivate  his  mind. 
The  rudiments  of  his  education  he  received  front 
Jared  Eliot,  who  then  kept  school  at  Guilford.  It  is 
a  very  great  advantage  to  youth  to  receive  early  im- 
pressions from  an  able  hand.  Many  of  the  teach- 
ers in  country  villages,  and  we  may  extend  our  ob- 
servations to  larger  towns,  are  not  the  men  to  dis- 
seminate virtue,  or  promote  knowledge.  The  sub- 
ject of  our  notice  was  fortunate  in  having  Mr.  E.  for 
his  instructor,  but  suffered  from  the  ignorance  of 
others.  He  had  talents  and  resolution  to  overcome 
every  difficulty ;  but  how  many  ingenious  youth  sink 
under  discouragement,  where  the  master  shakes  his 
iron  rods,  but  has  no  faculty  of  winning  the  souls 
of  his  pupils  or  giving  instruction  !  Mr.  J.  entered 
Yale  College,  1710,  was  graduated  at  the  usual 
time,  and  very  soon  was  chosen  tutor,  being  con- 
sidered as  the  best  scholar  in  his  class.  In  1724, 
he  was  ordained  at  West  Haven,  being  then  in  the 
24th  year  of  his  age. 

While  he  was  tutor  of  the  college,  valuable  pre- 
sents  of  modern  books  were  made  to  the  library. 
Mr.  agent  Dummer's  donation  wa»  800  vols,     A 


*J84  J  O  H 

fondness  for  the  new  library  brought  together  a 
number  of  young  gentlemen  of  literary  taste,  who 
jnutually  assisted  each  other  in  studying  the  philos- 
ophers, as  well  as  the  divines.  The  result  of  the 
study  and  consultation  was,  that  ordinations  in  the 
New  England  churches  were  not  valid  ;  that  the 
New  England  divines  were  very  ignorant,  and  their 
preaching  contemptible.  The  knowledge  acquired 
by  reading  the  works  of  Barrow,  Patrick,  South, 
Tillotson,  &c.  was  ''  like  a  flood  of  light  breaking 
in  upon  the  mind."  Few,  however,  Mr.  Johnson 
observed,  discovered  an  inclination  or  curiosity  to 
consult  any  of  the  abovementioned  writers,  except 
Messrs.  Cutler,  Eliot,  Hart,  Whittelsey,  Wetmore, 
Brown,  cOid  himself.  All  these  men,  from  drinking 
deeply  of  these  strearns,  became  converts  to  the 
church  of  England. 

Dr.  Johnson  went  to  England  for  orders,  in  com- 
pany with  Dr.  Cutler,  and  Mr.  Brown  ;  Mr.  Wet» 
more  followed.  Three  of  the  gentlemen,  Messrs. 
Hart,  Eliot  and  Whittlesey,  upon  further  consider-, 
ation,  did  not  enter  into  the  views  of  those,  who  em- 
braced episcopacy.  They  lived  to  an  old  age, 
ministers  of  the  churches  where  they  first  settled, 
and  were  among  the  most  eminent  and  useful  men 
in  New  England.  Mr.  Johnson  was  appointed 
missionary  of  the  London  Society  for  Stratford, 
■where  he  arrived  Nov.  4,  1723.  He  was  the  only 
episcopal  clergyman  in  the  colony.  His  society 
consisted  of  30  families  in  the  place  of  his  mission, 
and  about  40  more  in  the  neighbouring  towns,  to 
"whom  he  officiated  as  often  as  he  could  make  it  con- 
venient. When  Burnet  was  governour  of  New 
York,  he  cultivated  Mr.  Johnson's  acquaintance, 
and  esteemed  him  for  his  talents  as  well  as  relation 
to  the  episcopal  church.  But  this  led  the  clergy- 
man into  some  difficulty,  as  the  governour  was  from 
the  liberal  school  of  theology,  and  Mr.  Johnson 
inclined  rather  to  the  high  church.  Gov.  Burnet 
persuaded  him  to  read  Clarke,  Hoadley,  Whistonj 


J  O  H  285 

he,  and  it  was  feared  by  some  of  his  friends  that 
he  would  be  borne  down  by  the  weight  of  their  rea- 
sonings. But  in  this  case  he  would  have  lost  the 
friendship  and  patronage  of  the  bishops  and  divines, 
to  whom  he  had  been  introduced  in  England,  who 
were  all  on  the  opposite  side,  in  the  great  Bangoriau 
controversy. 

Among  the  friends  of  Mr.  Johnson,  Dean  Berk- 
ley was  the  most  useful  and  affectionate.  He  came 
to  America  in  1729,  and  resided  two  years  at  Rhode 
Island.  These  years  were  very  interesting  to  a  man, 
who  had  a  thirst  for  knowledge.  Mr.  Johnson  did 
not  fail  to  cultivate  his  acquaintance,  and  improve 
every  advantage  arising  from  such  exalted  friend- 
ship. Berkley  was  capable  of  improving  the  hu- 
man race.  His  virtue  was  equal  to  his  genius  and 
learning.  What  a  luxury  for  those,  who  were  inti- 
mate with  him  1  After  he  left  New  England  he  kept 
up  his  correspondence  with  Mr.  Johnson,  present- 
ed him  with  many  books  for  his  own  use,  and  gave 
to  Yale  College  by  his  advice,  above  1000  volumes, 
besides  his  farm  on  Rhode  Island,  the  income  of 
which  was  appropriated  to  the  three  best  classical 
scholars. 

In  1725,  Mr.  Johnson  engaged  in  a  controversy 
with  Mr.  Dickenson  of  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey, 
a  gentleman  of  whom  the  ministers  of  the  church  oi 
England  speak  with  the  highest  respect.  Mr. 
Dickenson's  book  was  printed  in  Boston  with  ii 
preface  written  by  Mr.  Fox  croft,  to  which  Dr. 
Johnson  replied. 

In  1723,  Mr.  Graham,  of  Woodbury,  published 
«'  a  ballad,"  in  which  he  was  satirical  on  several 
episcopal  ministers  in  Connecticut.  This  led  to 
another  publication,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Johnson, 
styled,  ''  plain  reasons  for  conforming  to  the 
church."  To  this  Mr.  Graham  wrote  an  answer  ; 
Mr.  Johnson  replied,  and  the  controversy  was  kept 
up,  each  of  them  writing  another  tract,  the  last  oi 
which  was  in  1736,  from  Mr.  Johnson,     These  de- 


3&6  lOH 

fences  of  the  church  gained  Mr.  Johnson  so  much 
reputation,  that  he  was,  in  the  year  1743,  presented, 
by  the  university  of  Oxford,  with  a  degree  of  Doc- 
tor in  Divinity. 

In  1746,  Dr.  Johnson  printed  a  work,  which  he 
called,  a  "  system  0/ morality ^'*^  containing  the  ^^ first 
principles  of  moral  philosophy^  or  ethicks  in  a  chain 
nf  necessary  consequences  from  important  facts. ' ' 

He  also  prepared  another  work,  1752,  *'  a  compen^ 
dium  of  logic y^^  &c.  which  issued  from  the  press  of 
Franklin,  and  had  a  high  recommendation  from 
that  philosophick  gentleman. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  so  distinguished  a  scholar,  that 
the  trustees  of  King's  College,  New  York,  elected 
him  their  first  president.  He  continued  in  this  of- 
fice from  1754  to  1763,  and  then  retired  from  his 
station  at  New  York  to  the  town  of  Stratford  in 
Connecticut,  where  he  had  passed  his  youthful  days 
in  laborious  and  active  services  for  the  church  of 
England  ;  nor  was  his  ardour  in  that  cause  cooled 
by  age.  Amidst  many  bodily  infirmities,  he  had 
a  lively,  vigorous  exercise  of  his  mind.  He  em- 
ployed his  time  and  pen  in  making  proselytes  to 
the  church  of  England.  He  wrote  an  appendix  to 
the  pamphlet,  which  first  appeared  against  Dr. 
Mayhevv's  considerations  of  the  conduct  of  the  soci- 
ety for  propagating  the  gospel.  The  vindication 
of  the  society,  to  which  Dr.  Johnson's  appendix  is 
annexed,  is  anonymous.  It  is  said  to  be  the  pro- 
duction of  Dr.  Caner,  minister  of  the  king's  chapel, 
Boston,  who  was  supposed,  at  the  time,  to  be  only 
the  editor  ;  but  the  report  comes  from  good  author- 
ity, that  he  was  the  writer.  In  1765,  he  published 
an  English  grammar  and  catechism.  Also  another 
edition  of  his  logick,  and  also  a  Hebrew  grammar, 
in  which  he  undertakes  to  prove  the  **  Hebrew  to 
be  the  mother  of  all  languages,  and  that  it  would  be 
proper  to  begin  a  learned  education  with  that  lan- 
guage, which  tends  to  all  other  languages,  and  bor- 
rows from  none." 


JOS  287 

No  man  could  enjoy  a  more  happy  old  age  than 
Dr.  Johnson.  He  had  resources  in  his  own  mind, 
was  fond  of  books,  was  able  to  correspond  with  his 
friends  at  a  distance,  and  to  give  pleasure  to  those 
with  whom  he  conversed  at  home.  Beside  thi& 
general  tranquillity,  he  had  the  consolations  of  reli- 
gion, looking  beyond  this  world  to  that  place  where 
the  virtues  of  the  rational  mind  will  be  improved, 
and  the  christian's  hope  be  turned  into  fruition. 

He  died  January  6,  1772,  aged  76.  Mr.  Leaming 
preached  at  his  funeral :  Mr.  Beach  also  printed  a 
sermon  in  which  he  endeavoured  to  do  justice  to 
his  character.  Private  letters.  C handler'' s  life  of 
president  Johnson*. 

JoLYFE  John,  esq.  died  at  a  great  age,  Nov. 
1701,  "a  man  who  had  been  very  useful  in  former 
days,  and  a  member  of  the  council  in  latter  days.'- 
T.  M.  H.  mss. 

JossELYN  John,  gentleman,  is  better  known 
by  his  writings,  than  by  any  biographical  sketches 
given  of  him.  A  person  of  the  name  is  mentioned 
among  the  commissioners  that  came  over  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  II.  to  put  F.  Gorges  into  posses- 
sion of  his  lands.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  in 
England.  Mr.  Hutchinson  says,  that  John  Josselyn 
was  his  brother.  He  discovered  upon  all  occasions 
a  prejudice  against  the  people  of  the  Massachusetts 
colony.  He  published,  in  1672,  a  book  called,  **  iV<?w 
England^ s  rarities  ^iscoxtT^^,  m  birds ^  beasts,  Jishesy 
serpents  and  plants  of  that  country.  Together  with 
the  physical  and  chirurgical  remedies  wherewith  th« 
natives  constantly  use  to  cure  their  distemper Sy 
wounds  and  sores,  also,  a  description  of  an  Indian 
squa,  in  all  her  bravery,  with  a  poem  not  improper- 
ly conferred  upon  \iQr, 2X^0, 2i chronological  table y^^  &c. 
Mr.  Josselyn  says,  he  came  into  New  England, 
1663.     On  the  28th  of  July,  he  arrived  at  Boston. 

In  1674,  Josselyn  printed  **  an  account  of  two  voy« 
ages  to  New  England,  with  a  dedication  to  the  pre- 
sident and  fellows  of  the  royai  society."^ 


288  K  N  O 

Knollys  Hanserd  came  over  to  America  in 
1638.  He  had  been,  nine  years,  a  minister  of  the 
church  of  England,  and  then  became  a  noncon- 
formist. In  Boston,  he  was  accused  of  Antinomi- 
anism,  and  meeting  with  trouble  on  this  account,' 
he  went  io  Dover,  in  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
preached  four  years,  and  then  returned  to  the  old 
country.  While  he  was  at  Dover,  he  wi'ote  a  letter, 
fuUof  resentment,  against  the  Massachusetts  colony. 
He  declared,  '*  they  were  more  arbitrary  than  the 
high  commission  court,  and  that  there  was  no  real 
religion  in  the  country."  A  copy  of  this  letter  was 
sent  to  gov.  Winthrop.  Mr.  Knollys  being  much 
affected  with  the  discovery,  went  to  Boston,  and  at 
the  publick  lecture  made  a  humble  confession  of 
his  faults,  and  wrote  a  retraction  to  his  friends,  in 
England,  which  he  left  with  the  governour  to  send* 
According  to  Dr.  Belknap  he  was  an  eccentrick 
character.  In  their  political  altercations  he  joined 
with  capt.  Underbill,  and,  upon  one  occasion,  was 
armed  with  a  pistol  to  defend  him  ;  another  had  a 
bible  mounted  on  a  halbert  for  an  ensign,  and  with 
this  ridiculous  parade  threatened  the  other  party  to 
the  combat.  He  gathered  a  Baptist  church  in  Lon- 
don, and,  it  is  said,  often  preached  to  a  thousand 
hearers.  Mr.  Henry  Jessy,  who  was  in  the  church, 
with  Mr.  Lathrop,  was  baptised  by  him.  He  was 
one  of  those  who  signed  the  Baptist  confession  of' 
fiuth,  in  16i3,  a  copy  of  which  is  preserved.  He 
continued  many  years  a  minister  of  the  church  in 
London,  which  he  hadexertedhimself  to  establish  ; 
and  died,  Sept.  19,  1691,  aged  93  years,  *' a  very 
respectable  old  man." 

Knox  Henry,  major  general  in  the  American 
army,  was  born  in  Boston,  July  25,  1750.  He  was 
the  sixth  of  12  children,  most  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. He  had  only  a  common  school  education  ; 
but  when  he  was  a  youth  discovered  fine  talents, 
and  a  desire  to  obtain  information  of  the  great  cha- 
racters of  antiquity,  warriors,  patriots  and  eminent  * 


K  N  O  28,9 

statesmen.  From  love  of  the  science,  he  studied 
military  tacticks  before  there  was  any  appearance  of 
a  war  with  Great  Britain.  He  was  an  officer  of  the 
Boston  grenadiers,  a  company  formed  and  com- 
manded by  major  Dowes,  who  exerted  himself  to 
make  the  militia  respectable,  and  was  an  officer  of 
great  activity  and  tine  address.  Knox  was  also  ac- 
tive and  enterprising,  fond  of  applause  ;  a  distin- 
guished character  among  those  ardent  sons  of  liber- 
ty, who  blazed  in  the  cause  of  their  country  ;  and 
continually  gave  presages  of  his  future  eminence. 

He  entered  the  army  under  honourable  and  flatter- 
ing circumstances.  As  soon  as  hostilities  com- 
menced, he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  battalion 
of  artillery.  There  were  several  very  excellent 
officers,  who  had  been  educated  under  major  Adi- 
no  Paddock  in  his  military  school  ;  but  they  were 
young,  not  equal  to  the  command,  and  were 
willing  to  serve  under  col.  Knox.  Paddock  was 
a  loyalist.  It  is  true,  that  capt.  Mason,  who  had 
raised  the  artillery  company,  to  whom  major  Pad- 
dock succeeded  as  captain,  was  on  the  spot.  But 
he,  instead  of  seeking  for  the  command,  offered  to 
serve  as  lieut.  colonel,  if  Mr.  Knox  might  be  appoint- 
ed colonel.  The  regmient  of  artillery  was  soon  en- 
larged toa  brigade,  ui.d  Mr.  Knox  appointed  brigadier 
general,  ^ie  was  the  idol  of  his  brigade,  and  high- 
ly respectable  through  the  whole  army.  He  was  the 
soldier's  friend,  and  the  companion  of  Washington. 
The  accounts  of  the  several  campaigns, 'in  every  his- 
tory of  the  American  war,  make  his  services  appear 
prominent.  la  1781,  after  the  British  army  sur- 
rendered at  Yorktown,  he  had  a  commission  of  ma- 
jor general  granted  to  him  by  congress.  As  his 
rank  in  the  line  of  the  army  did  not  entitle  him  to 
this  distinction,  it  gave  offence  to  some  of  the- 
brigadier  generals,  who  were  older  on  the  list; 
but  it  was  the  desire  of  the  army  as  a  decent  tribute 
of  respect  to  the  artillery,  to  whose  efforts  and  skill 
the  suceess  of  the  campaign  was  so  much  owing. 

o  o 


290  K  N  O 

The  capture  of  lord  Cornwall^  and  his  army  is  cer. 
tainly  the  most  splendid  event  of  those  times,  and 
the  name  of  gen.  Knox  ought  therefore  to  be  handed 
down  to  posterity  among  the  heroes  of  the  revolution- 

In  an  excellent  discourse,  delivered  after  the 
death  of  the  general,  by  Alden  Bradford,  esq.  it  is 
well  observed,  *'  that  his  exertions  were  united  with 
that  illustrious  patriot,  gen. Washington,  in  compos- 
ing  the  discontented  and  mutinous  spirit  which  ap- 
peared in  some  part  of  the  army,  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  which  threatened  the  country  with  the 
most  calamitous  events.  And,  by  the  same  exalted 
character,  he  was  selected  as  one  well  qualified  to 
fill  a  responsible  and  important  office  in  the  federal 
government,  which,  under  providence,  has  been  the 
instrument  of  our  political  welfare  and  happiness." 

After  gen.  Knox  had  resigned  his  office  as  minis- 
ter of  war,  he  employed  his  time  in  the  district  of 
Maine,  and  made  every  exertion  to  promote  its  set- 
tlement  and  cultivation.  liere  he  possessed  a  large 
landed  estate,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  beholding  the 
wilderness  subdued,  and  a  vast  extent  of  country, 
which  had  only  exhibited  the  gloominess  of  the  for- 
est, filled  with  inhabitants,  enjoying  the  blessings 
and  improvements  of  social  life.  He  did  not,  how- 
ever, wholly  seclude  himself  from  publick  cares, 
nor  from  the  circles  of  the  gay  world.  A  part  of 
the  year  he  generally  passed  in  the  metropolis  of 
old  Massachusetts  ;  and  he  was  called  to  fill  very 
respectable  and  honourable  posts  in  the  government. 
No  man  was  ever  more  decided  in  his  opinions,  or 
undisguised  in  his  conduct.  His  political  sentiments 
were  correct.  His  talents,  his  publick  spirit,  zeal 
to  promote  literary,  humane  and  religious  institu- 
tions, and  his  philanthropy,  ought  never  to  be  for- 
gotten. 

Gen.  Knox  had  a  very  robust  constitution,  en- 
joyed fine  health  and  spirits,  and  his  friends  indulg- 
ed the  hope  of  his  living  many  years  ;  but  he  died 
suddenly,  October  25th,  1806,  etat*  56, 


LAN  291 

Langdon  Samuel,  D,  D.  A.  A.  S.  was  born 
in  Boston  of  poor,  but  respectable,  parents.    He  ac- 
quired the  rudiments  of  knowledge   at  the  north 
grammar  school,  and  being  an  amiable  youth,  very- 
studious, with  uncommon  talents,  he  found  friends, 
who  made  every  exertion  to  give  him  a  liberal  edu- 
cation.    Having  entered  Harvard  College,  in  1736, 
he  was  graduated  at  the  usual  time,  and  went  to 
Portsmouth.,  New  Hampshire,  to  take  charge  of  the 
grammar  school  in  that  town.      His  reputation  for 
learning  and  piety  was  very  high,  and,  in  1745,  he 
was  invited  to  preach  in  the  first  church  at  Ports- 
mouth, as  assistant  to  Mr,  Fitch.   He  was  ordained 
pastor,  1747.     His  first  publication  was   a  sermon 
preached  at  the  ordination  of  the  late  Dr.  M'Clin- 
tock,  1756.      In  1759,  he  printed  a  thanksgiving 
discourse,  which  is  one  of  the  best  occasional  dis- 
courses extant;  in. 1761,  he  assisted  col  Blanchard 
in  delineating  a  map  of  New  Hampshire.      This 
was  published,  as  their  joint  production,  and  inscrib- 
ed to  Charles  Townsend,   secretary  at  war.     That 
gentleman  obtained  a  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity, 
from  Aberdeen,  for  Mr.  Langdon.      In   1765,  the 
doctor  published  "  an  examination  of  Sandiman's 
letters,"  in  8vo. ;  this  was  followed  by  a  **  summa- 
ry of  christian  faith  and  practice."     By  his  manner 
of  expressing  himself  upon  the  person  of  Christ,  he 
was  charged  with  Arianism  ;  but  he  always  declared 
to  the  contrary,  and  professed  himself  a  Trinitarian, 
and  also  a  Calvinist,  in  those  points  which  were  dis- 
cussed at  the  synod  of  Dort.      In  the  year   1774, 
Dr.  Langdon  was  chosen  president  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege.    His  character,  as  a  very  zealous  whig,  was 
of  more  advantage  to  him,  at  this  time,  than  his  re- 
putation in  the  republick  of  letters.     Mr.  Hancock 
was  in  the  corporation,  and  it  was  suggested  to  him, 
that    prejudices   were    spreading    against  several 
in    the    government    of  the    society,    who    were 
on  the  side  of  the  tories  ;     and  that  the  interest 
and  honour  of  the   college  were  likely  to  suffer. 


292  L  A  T 

When  president  Langdon  took  the  chair,  it  gave 
great  delight  to  the  sons  of  liberty.  He  warmly  es- 
poused their  measures,  and  was  chosen  to  .preach 
the  election  sermon,  1775,  a  month  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war.  Many  things,  however, 
concurred  to  make  his  situation  very  unpleasant  at 
Cambridge,  He  wanted  judgment,  and  had  no  spir- 
it of  government.  He  did  not  receive  all  that  kind- 
ness from  the  students  and  officers,  or  legislature  of 
the  college,  which  his  character,  as  a  scholar  and  a 
christian,  merited.  He  therefore,  in  1780,  resigned 
the  presidency  of  that  institution,  and  once  more  en- 
tered on  the  "  milder  task  of  teaching  a  church  of 
Christ."  He  was  installed  at  Hampton  falls,  18th 
January,  1781  ;  and  was  one  of  the  most  useful 
ministers  in  the  state.  In  1788,  he  preached  the 
election  sermon  at  Concord :  he  was  also  a  dis- 
tinguished member  of  the  convention  of  New 
Hampshire,  which  adopted  the  federal  constitution. 
He  often,  in  that  assembly,  led  their  debates  ;  and 
he  used  all  his  influence  to  convince  people  of 
their  error,  who  indulged  prejudices  against  it. 
He  lived  to  see  his  expectations  realized,  to  en- 
joy the  political  blessings  this  constitution  afford- 
ied  to  the  country,  and  was  himself  a  blessing 
to  his  flock.  It  has  been  well  observed,  *'  that  his 
extensive  knowledge,  hospitality,  patriotism  and 
piety,  secured  to  him,  in  his  calm  retreat,  the  re- 
spect and  affection  of  the  people  of  his  charge,  and 
of  his  numerous  acquaintance."* 

He  published,  beside  the  works  above  mentioned, 
observations  on  the  Revelations,  8vo.  1791  ;  several 
sermons  on  particular  occasions  ;  a  pamphlet,  show- 
ing the  mistakes  of  J.  Ogden,  rector  of  St.  John's 
c^hurch,  Portsmouth,  1792  ;  also,  remarks  on  Dr. 
Hopkins'  scheme  of  divinity,  1794. 

Lath  nop  John,  one  of  the  fathers  of  New  Eng- 
land, was  educated  at  Oxford,   as  appears  froipi  A. 

*  Alden's  account  of  Portsmouth. 


L  A  T  29S 

Wood,  who  mentions  his  name  in  Athensc  Oxoni- 
enses.  He  was  afterwards  an  independent  minister 
in  London.  Mr.  Jacob  was  the  first  minister  of  the 
independents,  who  went  to  Virginia  in  1624,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Lathrop.  About  40  of  this 
religious  society  were  imprisoned  in  1632.  The 
crime  alkdged  was  their  assembling  unlawfully. 
Many  of  them  were  afterwards  released,  but  no  fa- 
vour could  be  obtained  for  Mr.  Lathrop.  He  re- 
quested that  he  might  have  liberty  to  depart  the 
kingdom.  The  petition  was  presented  to  king 
Charles.  Laud  had  discovered  the  most  virulent 
prejudice  against  him.  He  hated  puritans  of  every 
denomination,  and  felt  the  more  resentment  against 
a  man,  who  was  a  leader  of  their  straitest  sect,  a 
minister  of  a  church  in  the  city,  which  made  them- 
selves independent  of  all  ecclesiastical  rule  or  pow- 
er, except  what  was  exercised  by  the  brethren. 
Having  obtained  liberty  of  the  king,  Mr.  Lathrop 
sailed  from  England  in  the  year  1634,  and  arrived 
at  Boston  the  18th  day  of  September.  Being 
there  on  the  sacrament  day,  the  first  week  in  Octo- 
ber, he  desired  liberty  to  be  present  at  the  admin- 
istration  of  the  ordinance,  but  said,  *'  that  he  durst 
not  desire  to  partake  in  it,  because  he  was  not  then 
in  order  (being  dismissed  from  his  former  congre- 
gation)  and  he  thought  it  not  fit  suddenly  to  be  ad- 
mitted into  any  other  for  example's  sake,  and  be- 
cause of  the  deceitfulness  of  man's  heart."  He  met 
the  ideas  of  our  fathers  upon  this  subject,  for  which 
they  are  censured  in  a  letter,  supposed  to  be  written 
by  Mr.  Cotton,  before  he  came  over  to  America : 
*'  I  am  constrained  to  bear  witness  against  your 
judgment  and  practice,  that  you  think  no  man  may 
be  admitted  to  the  sacrament,  though  a  member  of 
the  catholick  church,  except  he  be  a  member  of 
some  particular  church. " 

Mr.  Lathrop  and  his  people  w^ent  to  Scituate. 
But  in  the  year  1639,  there  was  some  difference  of 
opinion,  which  caused  a  division ;  and  a  considerable 


29i  LEE 

number,  with  their  pastor,  removed  to  Barnstable* 
Several  letters  upon  the  subject  of  their  removal  arc 
preserved  in  the  hands  of  the  family.  It  was  a  mat- 
ter of  surprise  ;  and  excited  many  observations  at 
the  time.  The  church  at  Barnstable,  however, 
grew  and  flourished  under  his  fruitful  ministry  ;  the 
town  increased  in  numbers,  and  remains,  to  this 
day,  conspicuous  in  the  county  for  numbers,  wealth, 
trade,  social  order,  and  religious  character.  Mr. 
Lathrop  died  in  1653.  His  character  was  that  of  a 
learned,  pious,  meek  christian  minister,  who  was 
in  season  and  out  of  season,  ready  to  every  labour  of 
his  office,  and  to  promote  the  good  of  the  settlement. 
He  lefta  numerous  posterity.  The  late  Isaac  Lothrop, 
esq.  a  gentleman  of  Plymouth,  and  member  of  the  his- 
torical society,  was  one  of  his  descendants.  In  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts  several  are  magistrates, 
and  others  very  respectable  in  private  life  ;  two  aged 
clergymen,  also,  among  the  most  worthy  and  dis- 
tinguished of  the  profession  in  this  state  are  his  great 
grandsons,  the  rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Lathrop  of  West 
Springfield,  and  rev.  Dr.  John  Lathrop  of  Boston. 
Lee  Samuel,  M.  A.  fellow  of  Wadham  College, 
was  proctor  ofthe  university  of  Oxford,  A.  D.  1651. 
He  possessed  a  strong  and  brilliant  imagination, 
and  his  learning  was  very  extensive.  He  printed  a 
large  book  in  Latin  de  excidio  Antichristi,  and  also 
a  description  of  Solomon's  temple,  folio,  1659.  He 
came  into  New  England  the  latter  part  of  the  reign 
of  Charles  2d,  and  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Bris- 
tol, in  Rhode  Island,  which  was  then  part  of  the  col- 
ony of  Plymouth.  Two  reasons  are  assigned  for 
his  leaving  Great  Britain.  One.  that  he  was  afraid 
of  the  growth  of  popery  ;  another,  that  he  was  in- 
vited to  be  president  of  Harvard  College.  He  was 
never  pleased  with  the  manners  of  the  people,  nor 
with  the  state  of  things  in  New  England.  Being 
eccentric  in  his  genius  and  extravagant  in  speech, 
he  disgusted  many,  who  admired  his  talents,  and 
read  his  books  with  delight.     He  was  rich,  haugh- 


LEE  295 

ty,  and  overbearing.  Many  anecdotes  are  related  of 
him,  which  served  as  a  kind  of  entertainment  to  the 
generation  which  succeeded  those  who  knevj  him. 
He  was  returning  to  his  native  country,  after  the 
revolution,  and  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  French  pri- 
vateer and  carried  into  St.  iMaloes.  After  suffering 
every  thing  which  the  prejudices  of  bigots  could 
add  to  what  national  antipathies  prompted,  he  died 
a  victim  to  their  cruelty. 

He  published  a  book,  which  has  been  much  read 
in  New  lingland.  *'  The  triumph  of  mercy  in  the 
chariot  of  praise.'*  He  also  published  the  *' joy  of 
faith,"  and  a  discourse  upon  the  '*  ten  tribes,  8  vo. 
and  a  number  of  single  sermons." 

Leete  William,  governour  of  Connecticut, 
came  into  New  England,  A.  D.  1638.  He  was 
bred  a  lawyer  in  the  old  country,  and  was  clerk  in 
the  bishop's  court,  but  gave  up  his  office  on  account 
of  the  spiritual  tyranny  which  was  exercised  in  those 
courts.  He  sailed  in  the  vessel  w^ith  Eaton  and 
Hopkins,  and  joined  Mr.  Whitfield's  company,  who 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  town  of  Guilford.  His 
name  is  among  the  six  planters  who  signed  the 
deeds  and  writings  at  New  Haven,  in  Newman's 
barn,  Sept,  1639,  when  they  purchased  the  lands 
of  the  squaw  Sachem  ;  and  afterwards  31st  of  Jan- 
uary the  same  year  when  they  confirmed  the  agree- 
ment ;  as  appears  from  the  records  of  that  colony. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  seven  pillars  of  Mr.  Whit^ 
field's  church.  When  Mr.  W.  went  to  England, 
several  of  the  first  planters  went  with  him,  but  Mr. 
Leete  remained  at  Guilford,  where  he  lived  much 
esteemed  by  the  people  of  that  town,  and  highly  re- 
spected by  the  colony.  He  was  chosen  a  magis^ 
irate  in  1643.  In  1658,  he  was  elected  deputy  gov- 
ernour of  New  Haven;  and  in  1661,  placed  in  the 
chair  of  government.  He  was  a  rigid  puritan  and 
stern  republican.  In  1660,  he  contrived  to  evade 
the  mandates  of  Charles  2d,  concerning  the  regi- 
cides, though  urged  by  the  authority  of  the  gov- 


296  L  E  V^ 

crnour  of  Massachusetts.  Whaley  and  Goffe  had 
taken  refuge  in  Connecticut.  They  made  them- 
selves known  to  Mr.  Leete,  and  he  was  charged 
with  concealing  them  ;  but  he  was  not  intimidated 
by  the  wrath  of  iheir  pursuers.  Even  when  the 
regicides  would  have  given  themselves  up,  as  vic- 
tims to  publick  justice,  rather  than  expose  their 
friends  to  a  prosecution,  he  prevented  them,  and  as- 
sisted in  every  measure  for  their  comfort  and  safe- 
ty. In  166'!),  when  the  colonies  united,  he  was 
chosen  one  of  the  magistrates  of  Connecticut ;  in 
1669,  deputy  governour  ;  and  amiually  received  this 
honour  from  the  people,  till  in  1676,  they  chose 
him  their  first  magistrate.  After  he  was  chosen 
governour  of  Connecticut,  he  removed  to  Hartford^ 
where  he  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  in  1683  fin- 
ished his  course.  In  both  colonies,  says  Dr.  Trum-  ■ 
bull,  "  he  presided  in  times  of  the  greatest  difficul- 
ty ;  yet  always  conducted  with  such  integrity  and 
wisdom  as  to  meet  the  pubiick  approbation."  That 
excellent  historian  mentions  an  iubtance  where,  in 
his  latter  days,  he  departed  from  those  rigid  princi- 
ples of  opposition  to  royalty,  which  once  influenced 
him.  "  The  acts  of  trade  and  navigation  were  ex- 
ceedingly grievous  to  the  colonies.  They  viewed 
them  as  utterly  inconsistent  with  their  chartered 
rights.  This  made  them  extremely  unwilling  to 
submit  to  them.  Massachusetts  never  would  fully 
submit ;  but  as  it  was  matter  of  great  and  continu- 
al complaint  against  the  colonies,  and  as  his  majes- 
ty insisted  on  the  respective  governours  taking  the 
oath  reispecting  trade  and  navigation,  it  was  judged 
expedient  thai  g;>v  Leete  should  take  it,  in  pres- 
ence of  the  iissembly.  It  Vv'as  accordingly  admin- 
istered to  hitn  at  the  sostion  in  lVI;.y,  1680." 

LfVERETT  I'homas,  oug  of  the  first  inhabitants 
of  Boston.  He  was  ruling  elder  of  the  old  church 
and  ordained  to  that  office,  Oct(j>ber  l7th,  1633,  the 
same  day  that  Mr.  Cotton  was  ordained  teacher. 


LEV  297 

LeVEREttJohn,  governour  of  the  Massachu- 
setts colony,  had  been  a  soldier,  and  distinguished 
himself  in  several  actions  abroad.  The  first  notice 
we  have  of  him,  in  our  annals,  is,  in  1642,  when  the 
Narraganset  Indians  were  preparing  to  make  war 
upon  the  English,  He  was  sent,  with  Mr.  Edward 
Hutchinson,  to  Miantinomo,  to  make  complaint  of 
his  duplicity,  and  to  require  their  sachem  to  come 
to  Boston,  or  send  two  of  his  chief  counsellors, 
that  complete  satisfaction  might  be  obtained  con- 
cerning his  conduct.  He  was,  in  the  year  1653, 
one  of  the  commissioners  of  Oliver  Cromwell  to 
raise  five  hundred  volunteers  to  assist  in  the  war  a- 
gainst  the  Dutch,  at  Manhadoes.  They  were  re- 
quired to  do  this,  by  the  lord  Protector,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  New  Haven  colony,  who  had  reason 
to  dread  every  thing  from  their  Dutch  neighbours, 
and  the  Indians,  who  were  instigated,  by  that  peo- 
ple, to  fall  upon  the  nearest  English  settlements. 
Mr.  L.  was  after  this  employed  in  places  of  trust. 
He  was  in  England  at  the  restoration,  and  an  advo- 
cate for  the  colony.  Upon  his  return,  he  was  chos- 
en a  member  of  the  general  assembly  for  Boston  ; 
in  1664,  he  was  appointed  major  general,  and  assist- 
ant in  1665  ;  in  1671,  he  was  promoted  to  be  de- 
puty governour.  He  succeeded  Willoughby,  a  man 
of  two  much  liberality  for  his  brethren  ;  for  he  op- 
posed all  the  persecutions  against  the  Baptists.  In 
1673,  gov.  Bellingham  died,  the  only  surviving  pa- 
tentee of  the  charter,  and  Mr.  Leverett  was  intro- 
duced to  the  chair.  He  was  so  beloved  by  the  col- 
ony, that  his  election  was  never  contested  ;  and  he 
descended  with  honour  to  the  grave,  March  16, 
1678.  Mr.  Nowel  preached  at  the  funeral,  and  Mr. 
Allen  an  occasional  sermon  the  Sabbath  after. 

Leverett  John,  F.  R.  S.  president  of  Harvard  * 
College,  was  a  grandson  of  gov.  Leverett.  He  was 
born  in  Boston,  and  graduated,  A.  D.  1680.  He  soon 
made  a  figure  among  gentlemen  of  the  civil  order, 
V/as  chosen  representative  for  Boston  at  the  general 
'  p  p 


298  LEV 

court,  and,  for  a  number  of  years,  was  speaker  of 
the  assembly.  He  was  advanced  to  his  majesty's 
council,  and  appointed  judge  of  the  superiour 
court.  All  these  honourable  posts  he  sustained 
with  dignity,  integrity,  and  the  applause  of  the  peo- 
ple. He  was  also  appointed  one  of  the  three  com- 
missioners with  power  of  controlling  the  army,  sent 
against  Port  Royal. 

,  In  1707,  this  honourable  gentleman  was  chosen 
president  of  Harvard  College,  which  station  he  a- 
dorned  by  his  learning,  and  excellent  character.  He 
was  one  of  gov.  Dudley's  particular  friends,  and 
did  all  in  his  powder  to  serve  him,  when  he  was  in 
the  civil  line,  and  was  very  instrumental  in  making 
his  administration  acceptable  to  the  people.  In  Dr. 
Cotton  Mather's  diary,  he  says.  "  I  received  a  visit 
from  gov.  Dudley,  June  16,  1702."  With  other 
observations  of  a  familiar  nature,  he  said  to  his  ex- 
cellency, ''  I  am  humbly  of  opinion,  that  it  will  be 
your  wisdom  to  carry  an  indifferent  hand  towards 
all  parties,  if  I  may  use  so  coarse  a  word  as  parties, 
and  give  occasion  to  none  to  say  that  any  have  mo- 
nopolized you,  or  that  you  take  your  measures 
from  them  alone.  I  should  approve  it,  if  any  other 
should  say,  by  no  means  let  the  people  have  cause 
to  say,  that  you  take  all  your  measures  from  the 
two  Mr,  Mathers.  By  the  same  rule  I  may  say- 
without  offence,  by  no  means  let  any  people  say, 
that  you  go  by  no  measures  in  your  conduct  but 
Mr.  Byefield's  and  Mr.  Leverett's."  This  conver- 
sation was  related  to  these  gentlemen,  and  tended 
to  increase  their  prejudices  against  the  good  doc- 
tors. While  president  Leverett  was  in  the  chair, 
they  seldom  or  ever  attended  the  overseers'  board.  It 
also  prevented  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  from  being  *'  fel- 
low of  the  corporation  ;"  but  he  had  the  mortifica- 
tion to  see  Dr.  Colman  and  Mr.  Brattle,  men,  who 
were  not  even  on  friendly  terms  with  him,  members 
of  the  corporation,  and  all  college  affairs  under  their 
influence.  He  copnplained  bitterly  of  this  thing 
in  his  diaries. 


L  O  V  299 

President  Leverett  received  honours  from  abroad, 
as  well  as  from  his  own  country.  From  a  sense  of 
his  literary  merit,  he  was  elected  fellow  of  the  royal 
society,  London. 

In  the  character  given  of  him  after  his  death,  writ- 
ten at  Cambridge, it  is  observed,  **  that  for  more  than 
forty  years,  he  shone  with  near  a  meridian  lustre  ; 
the  morning  of  his  life  being  so  bright,  that  it  shone 
like  noon,  and  both  the  college  and  country  rejoic- 
ed greatly  in  his  early  and  uncommon  light,  and 
now  his  sun  yet  seems  to  us  to  have  gone  down  at 
noon,  such  being  his  vigour  and  brightness  to  the 
age  of  sixty  two." 

His  death  was  very  sudden,  on  the  Lord's  day 
morning,  3d  of  May,  1724,  dying,  as  is  supposed, 
in  his  sleep,  without  a  groan  or  struggle. 

Mr.  Welsteed,  one  of  the  tutors,  had  an  eloquent, 
and  a  very  pathetick,  oration  in  the  hall  upon  the  sor- 
rowful occasion. 

Locke  Samuel,  D.  D.  president  of  Harvard 
College,  was  a  man  of  very  uncommon  powers  of 
mind,  a  very  accomplished  preacher,  with  a  most 
extraordinary  gift  in  prayer.  He  was  graduated  in 
1755,  and  ordained  minister  of  Sherburne  two  years 
after,  where  he  continued  till  he  was  invited  to  Cam- 
bridge. He  was  installed  president  of  the  college, 
March  21,  1770,  and  resigned  his  office,  December 
1,  1773. 

LovELL  John,  a  celebrated  preceptor  in  Boston, 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  A.  D.  1728. 
Two  years  after  he  had  received  the  honours  of  that 
seminary,  the  selectmen  of  Boston  chose  him  as- 
sistant  to  Dr.  Nathaniel  Williams,  for  many  years 
master  of  the  south  grammar  school.  In  this  office 
he  succeeded  the  famous  Jeremy  Gridley,  who  then 
entered  upon  his  professional  pursuits.  Upon  the 
death  of  master  Williams,  in  1738,  he  was  advanc- 
ed to  the  chief  place,  and  continued  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  that  important  station  with  great  dili- 
gence and  skill,  above  forty  years.       Most  of  our 


3O0  LOW 

first  characters,  in  church  and  state,  during  that  peri- 
od, had  been  under  his  tuition.  He  was  an  ex- 
cellent critick  and  classical  scholar  ;  his  learning 
was  extensive,  and  he  had  a  clear  understanding, 
and  solid  judgment.  Though  a  rigid  disciplinarian 
in  his  school,  yet  he  was  an  agreeable  companion, 
and  very  humourous.  He  wrote  many  fugitive 
pieces,  and  several  political  and  theological  pam- 
phlets. In  1742,  when  Mr.  Faneuil  died,  he  was 
chosen  to  deliver  a  funeral  oration,  which  he  pro- 
nounced in  Faneuil  hall,  March  14,  the  day  of  the 
annual  town  meeting.  This  was  printed,  and  is  an 
elegant  composition, in  which  the  virtues  of  that  mu- 
nificent friend  of  the  town  are  celebrated. 

In  the  controversy  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  colonies,  master  Lovell  took  a  very  decided 
part.  He  joined  the  loyalists,  and  went  away  with 
the  fleet  and  army,  which  left  Boston,  March  17, 
1776,  and  passed  the  rest  of  his  days  in  Halifax. 

Lowell  John,  minister  of  the  first  church  in 
Kewburyport,  was  born  in  Boston,  March  14,  1703 
— 4,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1721  ;  or- 
dained January  19,  1725 — 6,  and  died,  May  15, 
1767,  in  the  64th  year  of  his  age,  and  42d  of  his 
ministry.  He  was  distinguished  among  his  brethren, 
as  a  scholar  and  a  gentleman  ;  as  a  lover  of  good  men, 
though  of  different  denominations,  and  differing  sen- 
timents ;  amiable  in  his  domestick  arid  social  con- 
nections, and  happily  furnished  witli  that  kind  of 
knowledge  which  enabled  him  to  be  very  useful 
as  a  minister  of  religion.  Tucker'* s  funeral  sermon. 
Lowell  John,  L  L.  D.  and  A.  A.  S.  son  of 
the  rev.  Mr.  L.  was  born  at  Newbury,  1744,  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1756,  and  appli- 
ed himself  to  the  study  of  law.  He  very  soon 
rose  to  great  eminence  in  the  profession,  and  he 
grew  in  publick  esteem,  and  the  affections  of  his 
acquaintance,  as  he  advanced  into  life.  The  integ- 
rity of  his  character  always  secured  him  the  confi- 
dence of  those,  who  admired  his  abilities.      In  the 


LOW  30i 

year  1761,  he  removed  from  Newbtirj^port  to  Bos. 
ton  ;  was  chosen  representative  for  the  town  at  the 
general  court,  and  one  of  their  twelve  delegates  to 
the  convention,  which  formed  the  constitution  for 
the  commonwealth.  In  that  assembly,  he  was  very 
much  distinguished  by  his  knowledge  and  elo- 
quence. Being  one  of  the  committee,  who  drew 
the  plan,  he  was  fully  acquainted  with  the  subject 
whenever  he  took  a  part  in  the  debates  ;  his  speech* 
es  were  perspicuous,  wiiile  the  energy  of  his  ex- 
pression and  glow  of  manner  made  them  very  inter- 
esting and  entertaining.  In  ITS  I,  he  was  chosen 
member  of  congress,  and,  in  December,  1782,  he 
was  appointed,  by  that  body,  one  of  the  three  judges 
of  the  court  of  appeals,  a  tribunal  established  by 
congress  in  the  year  1780,  for  the  trial  of  all  appeals 
from  the  courts  of  admiralty  of  the  several  states. 
When  the  federal  government  was  established,  he 
was  appointed,  by  president  Washington,  judge  of 
the  district  court  in  Massachusetts.  He  remained 
in  that  office,  till  the  new  organization  of  the  federal 
judiciary  in  1801,  when  he  was  appointed  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  circuit  court  for  the  first  circuit,  com- 
prehending the  District  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire, 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island.  In  the  discharge 
of  that  office  he  continued  until  the  repeal  of  the 
-act  in  1802. 

On  the  bench  judge  Lowell  appeared  with  pecu- 
liar and  engaging  lustre.  With  the  most  conde- 
scending and  obliging  manners  he  maintained  the 
dignity  of  his  station.  In  critical  causes,  he  was 
mature  and  deliberate  in  making  up  a  judgment, 
and  his  quick  apprehension  and  faculty  for  discrim- 
ination, enabled  him  to  give  despatch  to  ordinary 
business.  People  of  different  political  sentiments, 
had  the  same  persuasion  of  his  knowledge,  and  im- 
partiality ;  and  those  against  whom  judgment  was 
given,  were  disposed  to  confide  in  the  equity  and 
legality  of  it.  Had  the  act  been  continued,  which 
established  the  circuit  courts,  he  would  have  had  a 


302  L  U  D 

greater  sphere  of  usefulness,  and  for  the  display  of 
his  talents. 

When  he  left  publick  business  and  retired  to  pri- 
vate life,  his  mind  was  active  in  promoting  benevo* 
lent  associations,  and  literary  improvements.  He 
had  a  fondness  for  agriculture,  gardening,  botany, 
and  other  branches  of  natural  Wstory.  He  first 
originated  the  subscription  for  a  professorship  of 
natural  history  at  the  university,  and  was  among 
the  most  generous  subscribers. 

Judge  Lowell  was  always  a  great  friend  to  Har- 
vard College  ;  his  mind  was  constantly  employed  in 
devising  means  for  its  prosperity.  When  there  was 
a  vacancy  in  the  corporation  in  1784,  he  was  elect- 
ed one  of  that  board,  and  was,  for  eighteen  years, 
a  very  attentive,  firm  and  judicious  member.  The 
critical  state  of  the  publick  funds  during  this  peri^ 
od  caused  some  doubtful  and  anxious  expecta- 
tions, and  required  of  the  members  of  the  corpora- 
tion peculiar  watchfulness  over  the  property  they 
had  in  trust.  Mr.  L.  acquainted  himself  with  the 
interest  and  circumstances  of  the  college,  and  its 
treasury  was  specially  benefitted  by  his  discreet  and 
active  exertions.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active  of 
our  publick  characters,  in  forwarding  the  plan  in 
1780,  for  establishing  an  academy  of  arts  and  sci- 
ences ;  and  the  society  elected  him  one  of  their 
counsellors.  They  had  also  such  a  sense  of  his  lit- 
erary merits  that  they  chose  him,  with  an  unani- 
mous vote,  to  deliver  anoration  when  president  Bow- 
doin  died.  The  service  was  performed  in  Brattle- 
street  church,  January  26^  1791.  The  oration  was 
published  in  one  of  the  volumes  of  the  academy. 
His  other  publications  are  without  his  name,  but 
are  specimens  of  elegant  composition.  He  died> 
greatly  lamented.  May  6,  1802. 

Ludlow  Roger,  came  with  Mr,  Warham  and 
his  company  to  Dorchester,  in  1630,  was  chosen  a 
magistrate,  and  was  deputy  governour  of  Massa- 
chusetts in  1634.     He  succeeded  Thomas  Dudley, 


L  U  D  303 

who  was  promoted  to  the  chief  place  in  the  room 
of  gov.  Winthrop,  whom  the  freemen  left  out,  for 
the  sake  of  making  a  rotine  in  the  office.*^  The 
next  year,  Mr.  Ludlow  was  set  aside  even  from 
the  magistracy.  It  seems,  he  aimed  at  the  govern- 
our's  place,  and  was  disappointed.  For  some  rea- 
son or  other,  he  protested  against  the  choice,  which 
offended  the  freemen.  Instead  of  advancing  him, 
therefore,  they  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  enjoy 
private  life.  He  soon  after  removed  to  Connecti- 
cut, He  fixed  his  abode  in  Fairfield,  and,  being 
clerk  of  that  town,  had  the  care  of  all  their  records, 
which  he  carried  off  when  he  left  New  England, 
1654.  He  was  a  magistrate  of  Connecticut,  or  de- 
puty governour  from  the  time  of  his  coming  into 
the  colony  to  his  departure.  In  1648,  he  was  one 
of  the  commissioners  of  the  United  colonies.  He 
was  chosen  again  in  1650,  and  several  years  after.  At 
their  meeting,  1653,  they  voted  to  carry  on  the  war 
against  the  Dutch.  He  was  full  of  resentment  at  the 
conduct  of  the  people,  who  opposed  the  determina- 
tions of  the  commissioners.  He  was  rash  enough  to 
head  a  party,  who  were  ready  to  go  from  Fairfield  to 
Manhadoes,  and  begin  the  war.  Men  of  warm  san- 
guine tempers  are  not  apt  to  weigh  consequences 
till  it  is  too  late.  He  gave  so  much  offence  as  to 
make  it  best  for  him  to  leave  the  country.  The 
least  he  could  expect  was  to  lose  his  offices.  And 
the  neglect  of  the  people  is  apt  to  chill  the  frame  of 
politicians,  as  much  as  their  ingratitude  can  wound 

•  "  Mr,  Cotton  preached  before  the  General  Court  this  month, 
and  delivered  this  doctrine,  that  the  magistrate  ought  not  to  be 
hurried  into  the  condition  of  a  private  man  without  just  cause, 
a-nd  to  be  publickly  convicted  ;  no  more  than  the  magistrate 
may  now  turn  a  private  man  out  of  his  household,  Sec.  without 
like  publick  trial.  This  falling  in  question  in  the  court,  and  the 
opinion  of  the  rest  of  the  ministers  being  asked,  it  was  referred 
for  further  consideration."     Winthrofi^s  Journal. 

This  would  be  strange  policy  in  some  states  of  society.  So 
far  from  being  adopted  by  the  sovereign  people,  at  this  time,  that 
they  let  the  ministers  know,  that  all  magistrates  were  only  the 
creatures  of  their  power,  and  should  be  shifted  at  their  pleasure. 


304  MAN 

the  spiriti.  Dr.  Trunfibull  gives  Ludlow  a  high 
character.  He  says,  he  rendered  very  essential  ser- 
vices  to  tlie  commonwealth  ;  was  a  principal  in 
fbnning  its  original  constitution,  and  the  compiler 
of  the  first  Connecticut  code,  printed  at  Cambridge, 
1672.  For  jurisprudence  he  appears  to  have  been 
second  to  none,  who  came  into  New  England  at  that 
time.  Had  he  possessed  a  happier  temper  he  would, 
probably,  have  been  the  idol  of  the  people. 

Manning  James,  D.  D.  president  of  Brown 
College,  Rhode  Island,  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
Oct.  22,  1738  ;  was  graduated  at  the  college  of 
Pfincetown,  176L  He  was  ordained  a  preacher  of 
the  gospel,  and  acquired  as  much  fame  by  his  abil- 
ities and  learning,  as  by  his  very  fine  voice  and  de- 
livery.  As  soon  as  they  erected  a  college  in  Rhode 
Island  and  Providence  plantations,  he  was  invited 
to  preside  over  that  seminary.  In  1764,  Mr.  Man- 
ning  removed  to  Warren,  where  the  legislature  con- 
templated fixing  the  college.  But  a  spacious  build- 
ing being  erected  in  the  town  of  Providence, 
through  the  influence  of  some  leading  characters, 
the  college  was  established  in  that  town.  President 
Manning  removed  in  1770,  and  continued  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  his  station  to  the  great  advan- 
tage of  the  institution,  as  long  as  he  lived.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  was  able  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
president,  and  to  preach  to  a  very  large  parish.  In 
1786,  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  congress.  He 
was  a  strong  federalist  when  the  constitution  was 
the  subject  of  debate.  He  attended  very  frequent- 
ly the  convention,  which  met  in  Boston,  for  the 
sake  of  hearing  the  arguments  on  both  sides,  that  he 
might  acquire  greater  strength  to  combat  those,  who 
opposed  the  constitution  in  the  state  of  Rhode  Island. 

He  received  his  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity 
from  the  university  of  Philadelphia. 

Finding  it  inconsistent  with  his  other  ofiices  to 
atten4  congress,  he  resigned  his  place,  and  gave  his 


MAT  305 

Wiioie  attention  to  college  duties,  and  no  man  wa$ 
better  calculated  to  make  the  institution  flourish. 
He  was  suddenly  called  oiF  the  stage  of  action, 
by  a  fit  of  the  apoplexy,  and  died,  24th  July,  1791, 
in  the  53d  year  of  his  age. 

.Mather  RicHABn,  minister  of  Dorchester,  was 
the  first  of  the  family,  who  came  over  to  New  Eng- 
land ;  and  from  him  are  descended  many  worthy 
and  learned  men,  who  have  been  celebrated  in  Eng- 
land, as  well  as  in  these  new  plantations.  He  was 
called  a  great  man  in  his  day  by  others,  besides  his 
descendants,  who  were  never  backward  in  celebra- 
ting the  talents  and  literary  accomplishments,  on 
eminent  christian  virtues  of  their  ancestors.  Per- 
haps many  men,  among  the  wisest  and  best  of  their 
generation,  have  not  been  mentioned  in  a  succeed- 
ing age,  having  no  friend  to  flatter,  and  no  children 
to  bear  up  the  name. 

For  more  than  a  century  the  name  of  Mather  was 
known  and  celebrated  in  every  part  of  the  land ; 
many  branches  are  now  cut  off,  and  we  must  go  out 
of  the  state  of  Massachusetts  to  find  one  engaged  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  though  formerly  so  many 
of  them  were  distinguished  among  the  angels  of  the 
churches,  "  In  all  ages,  there  have  been  stars  to 
lead  men  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  Angelical  men,  employed  in  the  ministry 
of  our  Lord,  have  been  those  happy  stars.  And  we 
in  the  west  have  been  so  happy,  as  to  see  some  of 
the  first  magnitude,  among  which  was  Mr,  Richard 
M  ather. ' '     Magiialia. 

He  was  born  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  A.  D. 
1596.  His  parents  were  respectable,  and  gave  him 
a  liberal  education.  He  was  educated  at  the  uni- 
versity of  Oxford,  became  a  preacher  in  early  life, 
was  eminent  for  his  pious  discourses  in  the  pulpit, 
and  for  conversation,  but  was  suspended  for  his  non- 
conformity,  in  1633.  He  was  again  restored,  and 
again  ISuspended,  and  after  some  inquiry  and  debate, 
in  his  own  mind,  he  resolved  to  leave  the  fair  fidds 


30'6  M  A  T 

of  his  own  country  for  the  obscure  places  of  the  wi/- 
derness.  In  May,  1635,  he  sailed  from  Bristol,  and 
arrived  in  Boston  harbour,  August  17.  Two  days 
previous  to  his  arrival  there  wa&  a  tremenduous 
storm,  of  which  he  has  given  a  printed  account. 

He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  at  Dorches- 
ter, August  23,  1636,  and  was  a  distinguished  or- 
nament  of  the  churches  of  New  Kngland.  In  the 
year  1669,.  he  had  a  violent  fit  of  the  stone,  to  which 
he  had  been  subject  many  years,  and  died  22d  day 
of  April.  Though  an  old  man,  yet  his  death  M'as  a 
great  loss,  because  his  talents  and  industy  enabled 
him  to  be  useful,  and,  at  this  very  time,  he  was  mod- 
erator of  a  council,  which  had  met  in  Boston  to  set- 
tle a  dispute,  and  which  led  one  of  his  brethren  to 
write  this  epitaph^  Vixerat  in  synodis,  moritur 
moderator  in  illis-.  He  bad  been  a  leading  charac- 
ter inevery  synod,  which  had  met  in  New  England^ 
from  his  arrival  to  the  time  of  his  death.  In  1639, 
there  were  32  questions  printed  concerning  church 
goiiernment.  These  Vv'ere  answered  by  the  ministers 
of  New  England.  Mr.  R.  Mather  is  said  to  have 
written  the  answer  ;  and,  also,  that  the  platform 
of  church  government,  which  was  held  in  so  much 
veneration  for  so  many  years,  though  now  only  re- 
sorted to  upon  convenient  occasions,  was  chiefly 
composed  by  him.  He  prepared  for  the  press  a 
book  entitled,  a  plea  for  the  churches  in  New  Eng- 
land, a  large  work.  Besides  these,  he  wrote  several 
pamphlets  to  mark  the  difference  between  the  Con- 
gregational mode  of  government  and  the  Presbyte- 
riaf,  establishment. 

In  1662,  the  famous  synod  was  appointed  by  the 
general  court  to  settle  the  controversy  concerning 
the  subjects  of  baptism,  and  also  the  consociation 
of  churches.  Certain  propositions  were  drawn  up^ 
and  presented  to  the  general  court,  which  were  ac- 
cepted. One  of  these  excited  no  small  controversy, 
which  has  been  kept  up  even  to  the  present  day. 
It  is  not  likely  that  our  general  court  wilj  again  med- 


MAT  307 

i^le  with  it;  but  there  will  be  disputants  among  those, 
who  have  the  spirit  of  religious  controversy.  It 
was  the  fifth  proposition  discussed  by  the  synod, 
''  Whether  those,  who  make  a  profession  of  religion, 
whereby  they  ghe  themsehes  up  to  God  in  a  solefmi 
covenant^  and  subject  themsehes  to  the  discipline  of  the 
church,  shall  have  the  privilege  of  baftism  for  their 
children.'''' 

1  here  were  several,  who  opposed  the  voice  of  the 
synod,  among  them  president  Chauncy,  Mr.  Da- 
venport, of  New  Haven,  and  Mr.  Increase  Mather, 
minister  of  the  second  church  in  Boston, 

Three  very  eminent  divines  were  elected  to  man- 
age the  controversy  with  them.  Mr.  Allen  of  Ded- 
ham,  to  answer  president  Chauncy,  Mr.  Richard 
Mather  to  write  against  Mr,  Davenport,  2ind  Mr. 
Mitchel  of  Cambridge  a  younger  divine,  but  Vir, 
claro  nomine,  to  discuss  the  subject  with  Mather  the 
younger.  The  books  were  well  written,  but  the 
manner  of  writing,  which  Mr.  R.  Mather  adopted, 
pleased  old  Mr.  riigginson  of  Salem  so  much,  that 
he  said,  ''  he  was  a  pattern  t,o  all  tlie  ansnjjerers  in 
the  wo  rid. ''^ 

From  the  general  account  of  this  eminent  divine, 
his  talents  were  adapted  for  controversy,  and  his 
knowledge  of  ecclesiastical  affairs  made  him  more 
qualified  to  write,  than  many  ot  his  brethren.  As  a 
preacher,  he  was  plain  and  practical,  solid  and  judi- 
cious ;  but  less  popular,  than  several  of  his  sons, 
whose  sermons  and  pulpit  eloquence  have  been 
more  applauded. 

He  printed  a  treatise  upon  justification,  and  sev- 
eral small  treatises,  which  were  well  spoken  of ;  and 
prepared  several  sermons  for  the  press^  v»/hich  were 
never  published. 

Mr,  Mather  was  blessed  with  a  number  of  chil- 
dren.  He  left  four  sons,  all  of  whom  were  dis- 
tinguished preachers  of  the  gospel,  and  ot whom 
mention  should  undoubtedly  be  made  in  these  bio- 
graphical sketches. 


m^  MAT 

Mather  Samttel,  preached  the  first  serm6n 
which  was  delivered  in  the  church  at  North  Boston, 
lie  was  afterwards  settled  at  Dublin,  where  he  died^ 
A.  D.  1671,  having  been  laborious  in  his  business, 
serviceable  in  his  generation,  and  respectable  among 
men  of  worth  and  talents.  He  was  the  author  of  a 
number  of  publications. 

Mather  Nathaniel,  who  succeeded  Samuel 
at  Dublin,  and  was  afterwards  pastor  of  a  church  ia 
London,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1647. 

Mather  Eleazfr,  was  graduated  1656,  and 
was  settled  at  Northampton  1661.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  32 

Of  the  fourth  son,  we  are  prepared  to  give  a 
more  circumstantial  narrative. 

Mather  Increase,  D.  D.  president  of  Har- 
vard College,  was  graduated  the  same  year  with  his 
brother  Eleazer,  and  was  invited  to  preach  at  the 
north  church  in  Boston,  rendered  vacant  by  the  re- 
signation of  Mr.  Mayo.  He  was  ordained  pastor. 
Ma)  27,  1699.  In  1681,  he  was  invited  to  take 
charge  of  the  college,  and,  at  the  commencement  of 
thib  year,  he  moderated  at  the  master's  disputations, 
and  conferred  the  dt  grees.  But,  upon  consulting 
with  his  church,  they  refused  to  part  with  him,  and 
Mi.  Rogers  was  chosen  president  of  the  college. 
In  1684,  Mr.  Rogers  died,  and  Mr.  Mather  was 
again  honoured  by  an  election  to  that  office,  and  ac- 
cepted it  upon  certain  conditions,  by  which  he 
could  Comply  with  the  request  of  the  corporation,  and 
satisfy  the  objections  of  his  own  church.  He  was 
allowed  to  preach  every  Sabbath  in  Boston,  and  at- 
tend his  duty  as  president  of  the  college  on  week 
days.  His  great  industry  and  application  to  busi- 
ness  enabled  him  to  do  this.  He  excelled  likewise 
in  extemporaneous  performances,  which  rendered 
his  ministerial  duties  more  easy  to  him .  He  governed 
the  college  with  great  reputation  till  the  year  1701, 
when  his  age  required  relaxation  from  a  multiplici- 
ty of  cares,  and  he  resigned  his  place  at  Cambridge* 


MAT  309 

While  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  college,  he  was 
presented  by  the  fellows  of  the  corporation  and  board 
of  overseers,  with  a  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity.* 
Dr.  Mather  was  eminent  for  his  services  both  to 
the  church  and  commonwealth.  He  must  have 
possessed  talents  and  influence,  or  he  never  would 
have  been  chosen  agent  to  the  court  of  Great  Bri- 
tain. He  used  ail  his  influence  to  persuade  the  peo- 
ple never  to  surrender  their  charter,  and  published 
his  reasons.  He  found  in  Randolph,  therefore,  a  bit- 
ter enemy,  who  contrived  the  most  base  methods 
to  ruin  him.  A  letter  was  sent  to  sir  Lionel  Jen- 
kins,  with  the  signature  of  Dr.  Mather,  which  con- 
tained  reflections  upon  him,  and  praises  of  Oates, 
lord  Shaftesbury,  &,c  men,  who  were  obnoxious  to 
the  king.     There  was  such  appearance  of  forgery, 

*  By  Mr.  Mather's  influence  the  general  court  passed  an  act, 
bearing  date  June  27,  1692,  for  a  new  college  charter,  and  sent 
it  over  to  Great  Britain  for  the  royal  assent ;  but  the  king  nega- 
tived it,  because  it  did  not  reserve  to  him,  by  his  governour,  the 
power  of  a  royal  visitation.  Upon  this,  the  general  assembly  of 
New  England  afrer  some  time  revised  the  act,  and  sent  it  back, 
with  an  amendment,  admitting  the  king  by  his  governour  and 
council  in  New  England,  to  be  visitors  of  the  college  ;  but  the 
court  not  accepting  the  amendment,  the  affair  was  dropped,  and 
the  college  left  to  act  upon  the  foot  of  the  old  charter,  which  they 
had  by  George  Dudley,  in  1650.  But  it  being  proved  by  the 
new  charter  of  the  province,  that  vi^hen  the  general  court  passes 
the  act,  and  sends  it  over  to  England  for  the  royal  assent,  it  con- 
tinues in  force  for  three  years,  if  it  be  not  sooner  repealed,  the 
governours  of  the  college  took  advantage  of  this  clause,  and  pre- 
sented the  president  with  a  diploma  of  doctor  of  divmily,  under 
the  seal  of  the  college,  with  the  hands  of  the  fellows  annexed  to 
it,  bearing  date  from  Cambridge  in  New  England,  Nov.  17, 
1692.  Mr.  M.  accepted  the  diploma,  but  was  never  installed, 
nor  did  he  assume  the  title  for  several  years  ;  but  the  great  servic- 
es he  had  done  his  country,  his  universal  learning  and  goodness, 
together  with  his  venerable  old  age,  at  length  supplied  the  de- 
fects of  the  title,  and  confirmed  him  in  this  honour  with  the  uni- 
versal consent  and  approbation  of  his  country.  jYtafs  histoiy^ 
vol.  ii.  page  1 15. 

The  expression  "  continuing  in  force  three  years"  is  not  (juitc 
correct.     The  laws  were  perpetually  in  force,  or  for  the  teim 
therein  mentioned)  iinless  the  king,  within  three  years.  di3:^!--'>. 
them. 


310  MAT 

that  sir  Lionel  treated  it  with  contempt.      When 
this  was  told  Dr.  Mather,  some  years  after,  he  ex- 
plained the  business   to  that  gentleman  with  his 
opinion,  that  Randolph  wrote  it.     Upon  this,  Ran- 
dolph brought  an  action  against  him  for  defamation  ; 
but  the  case  was  given  in  favour  of  the  defendant, 
Randolph  was  not   satisfied  ;    and  it  being  the  tri- 
umph of  his  power,  he  determined  to  bring  another 
action,  if  it  were  only  to  vex  and  torment   him. 
About  this  time  the  general  assembly  had  fixed 
their  eyes  upon  him,  as  a  proper  person  to  send  to 
England  to  represent  their  grievances,  and  remon- 
strate against  the  arbitrary  conduct  of  sir  Edmund 
Andross.     Randolph's  writ  would  have  prevented 
his  voyage  ;  but  he  went  on  board  the  vessel  in  the 
night,  April.  1688,  and  sailed  immediately  for  Lon- 
don.    When  he  arrived,   he  presented  himself  to 
king  James,  and  described  the  situation  of  the  colo- 
ny, and  his  majesty  made  a  promise  to  redress  griev- 
ances.    He  was  afterwards  introduced  to  the  prince 
of  Orange,  and  when  king  William  and  Mary  were 
on  the  throne,  all  the  New  England  agents  address- 
ed their  majesties  for  the  restoration  of  their  char- 
ters.    Their  applications  were  deferred  on  account 
of  the  affairs  of  Europe,  which  drew  the  king  to  Hol- 
land.    Li  one  audience,  which  they  obtained  of  his 
majesty,  April  28,  1691,  Mr.  Mather  humbly  pray- 
ed his  majesty's  favour  to  New  England.  "  Your 
subjects,"  said  he,   "have  been  willing  to  venture 
their  lives  to  enlarge  your  dominions.:   the  expedi- 
tion to  Canada  was  a  great  and  noble  undertaking- 
May  it  please  your  majesty,  in  your  great  wisdom^ 
also,  to  consider  the  circumstances  of  that  people, 
as  in  your  wisdom  you  have  considered  the  circum- 
stances of  England  and  Scotland.   In  New  England, 
ihey  differ  from  other  plantations  :    they  are  called 
congregational  and   presbyterian ;    so   that  such  a 
government  will  not  suit  with  the  people  of  New 
England,  as  may  be  proper  for  people  in  tlie  other 
plantations.^' 


MAT  4311 

The  several  applications,  which  were  made  to  the 
king ;  the  difference  of  opinion  among  the  agents 
of  New  England  ;  the  various  conferences  with  the 
ministers,  lawyers,  and  noblemen,  who  were  friends 
to  the  colonies,  are  all  related  very  minutely  in  the 
history  of  Massachusetts  bciy,  and  in  the  memoirs  of 
Dr.  Increase  Mather,  which  his  son  published  after 
his  death. 

The  new  charter  arrived,  14th  May,  1691,  and  the 
general  court  appointed  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for 
the  safe  arrival  of  his  excellency  the  governour, 
and  the  rev.  Mr.  Increase  Mather,  who  (say  they) 
have  industriously  endeavoured  the  service  of  this 
people,  and  have  brought  over  with  them  a  settle- 
ment of  government,  in  which  their  majesties  have 
graciously  given  a  distinguished  mark  of  their  royal 
favour  and  goodness. 

There  were  many,  however,  who  disliked  the 
abridgment  of  their  privileges,  and  censured  their 
agents,  who  accepted  the  new  charter ;  some  of  Mr. 
Mather's  old  friends  forsook  him ;  and  he  often 
complains  of  the  ingratitude  of  those  whom  he  wish- 
ed  to  serve.  He  was,  to  be  sure,  covered  with  ma- 
ay  honours,  which  it  was  rare  for  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  to  receive  ;  but  he  was  troubled  with  many- 
cares,  which  those  are  freed  from,  who  confine 
themselves  to  their  professional  duties.  He  doubt- 
less thought  full  enough  of  his  services,  and  many, 
on  the  other  hand,  were  disposed  unreasonably  to 
take  from  him  part  of  the  credit,  which  he  deserved. 
The  dissenting  ministers  in  London  were  his 
friends  ;  but  they  knew  better  how  to  estimate  his 
piety  than  his  policy.  He  had  testimonies  from 
some  eminent  statesmen  of  his  abilities,  probity  and 
industry,  particularly  from  lord  Somers  ;  but  if 
praises  were  bestowed  upon  him  because  he  acted 
by  their  advice,  the  compliment  is  more  to  them- 
selves  than  to  him. 

As  the  pastor  of  a  church,  Dr.  Mather  w^as  high- 
ly esteemed  by  all  classes  of^people.    His  gifts,  his 


31^  MAT 

preaching,  and  his  writings  were  accounted  exccL 
lent.  He  was  the  father  of  the  New  England  cler- 
gy,  and  his  name  and  character  were  held  in  venera- 
tion, not  only  by  those,  who  knew  him,  but  by  suc- 
ceeding generations.  He  died,  August  23,  1723, 
aged  85*  Several  discourses  were  printed  upon  the 
occasion  ;  but  a  more  full  account  of  him  is  in  an 
octavo  volume,  called  '*  Remarkables  of  the  life  of 
Dr.  Increase  Mather." 

His  publications  were  numerous.  In  the  book 
above  mentioned,  we  have  a  catalogue  of  85,  be- 
side '' the  learned  Sind  ustiul  prefaces,  which  the 
publishers  of  many  books  obtained  from  him,  as  a 
beautiful  porch  unto  them,  and  which  collected 
would  make  a  considerable  volume.'* 

Mather  Cotton,  D.  D.  F.  R.  S.  the  eldest  son 
of  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  was  the  most  celebrated  di- 
vine in  New  England;  and  if  his  judgment  had  been 
equal  to  his  imagination  and  memory,  he  would 
have  ranked  with  the  first  scholars  of  any  age.  His 
mother  was  daughter  of  the  famous  John  Cotton, 
teacher  of  the  first  church  in  Boston.  He  was  born 
in  Boston,  1662,  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1678,  ordained  colleague  with  his  father,  May  27, 
1684,  and  died,  Feb.  13,  1728.  The  obituary  of 
the  Boston  Newsletter  describes  him,  "as  the 
principal  ornament  of  his  country,  and  the  greatest 
scholar  that  was  ever  bred  in  it.  Besides  his  uni- 
versal learning,  his  exalted  piety  and  extensive 
charity,  his  entertaining  wit  and  singular  goodness 
of  temper  recommended  him  to  all,  who  were  judg- 
es of  real  and  distinguished  merit."  Oldmixen  and 
Douglass  give  an  account  of  him  very  different.  One 
only  judges  of  him  from  his  works  ;  he  calls  his 
history  a  miserable  jargon,  loaded  with  many  learn- 
ed quotations,  school  boy  exercises,  Romanlike  le- 
gends, and  barbarous  rhymes.*  The  other  was 
prejudiced  against  him,  and  descends  to  every  kind 
•f  low  satire  to  render  the  man  as  well  as  the  writer 

*  British  empire  in  America. 


MAT  31^ 

ridiculous.     His  own  *'  summary"  however  is  np^ 
more  elegant,  nor  are  the  facts  equally  correcto 

Dr.  Mather  had  his  enemies  in  town  and  country^ 
and  doubtless  there  were  eccentricities  in  hi§  con- 
duct, as  well  as  weak  things  jn  his  writing^.  He 
wrote  too  much  to  write  well.  He  did  every  thing 
with  amazing  rapidity.  It  is  said  he  could  read  a 
folio  of  many  hundred  pages,  and  write  a  sermon  in 
the  course  of  a  forenoon.  He  became  acquainted 
with  every  thing  by  a  kind  of  intuition,  and  was  al- 
so a  man  of  prodigious  industry.  With  all  his  at- 
tention to  literary  pursuits,  and  his  active  services, 
he  never  neglected  any  of  his  parochial  duties  ;  and 
also  allowed  himself  time  for  private  devotion, 
spending  one  day  of  the  week  in  fasting  and  prayer. 
He  had  less  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the  common- 
wealth than  his  father,  and  the  events  of  his  life 
were  not  so  various.  The  clergy  also  treated  him 
with  less  respect,  although  they  were  ready  to  ac- 
knowledge, that  he  had  superiour  abilities  to  the 
old  gentleman,  and  a  vast  deal  more  learning. 
There  was  a  singular  gravity  in  the  deportment  of 
Dr.  Increase  Mather,  which  qualified  him  for  a  pa- 
triarch ;  Dr.  C.  Mather  discovered  often  a  levity 
of  mind,  a  strange  kind  of  vanity,  a  fondness  for 
punning  and  making  remarks  inconsistent  with  the 
character  of  that  age ;  and  which  sometimes  brought 
him  into  serious  difficulties.  He  had  a  great  ac- 
cjuaintance  with  books^  but  did  not  understand  hu- 
man nature  ;  yet  he  imagined  he  had  a  claim  to  all 
that  reverence  from  his  brethren  and  the  people, 
which  his  father's  age  as  well  as  prudence  gave 
him. 

His  literary  distinctions  were  chiefly  from  abroad. 
The  university  of  Glasgow  presented  him  with  a 
diploma  of  doctor  of  divinity  ;  and  his  name  is  on 
the  list  of  the  fellows  of  the  royal  society  in  London. 
He  is  styled  a  fellow  of  Harvard  College  in  the  cata- 
logue; but  he  was  only  chosen  among  those,  who  were 
\9  be  fellowsj  if  the  college  charter  were  enlarged. 

R   r 


314  M  A  T 

Twice  he  thought  himself  a  candidate  for  the 
president's  chair,  and  kept  days  of  fasting,  that  he 
might  be  directed  how  to  act  upon  the  occasion  ;  but 
he  was  disappointed.  Gov.  Dudley  persuaded  his 
friend  Leverett  to  accept  the  place  in  1707  ;  and 
when  that  great  man  died,  in  1726,  and  the  voice 
of  the  people  cried  aloud  for  Dr.  Mather,  and  it  was 
declared  even  in  the  general  court  that  he  ought  to 
be  president,  it  was  decided  otherwise  by  the  mem,- 
bers  of  the  corporation.  The  chair  was  first  oifer- 
ed  to  Dr.  Colman,  and  Dr.  Sewall,  and  afterwards 
to  Mr.  Wads  worth,  who  accepted  it.  In  a  private 
account  of  this  transaction.  Dr.  M.  says,  '*  this  day 
Dr.  Sewall  was  chosen  for  his  piety."  In  a  pub- 
lick  speech  made  in  the  general  assembly  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Boston  seat  declared,  after  Dr.  Colman's 
election,  that  he  was  a  man  of  no  learning  compar- 
ed with  Dr.  Mather.* 

One  of  the  most  elegant  compositions  of  those 
times,  was  a  funeral  sermon  upon  Dr.  Cotton  Ma- 
ther, by  this  very  Dr.  Benjamin  Colman,  who  there- 
in declares  him  to  be  by  far  the  greatest  man  he 
ever  was  acquainted  with. 

In  the  account  of  the  funeral  of  Dr.  Mather,  in  the 
newspapers,  it  seems,  that  great  respect  was  paid  to 
his  remains.  After  the  relatives,  proceeded  the  lieut, 
governour,  Mr.  Dummer,  his  majesty's  council, 
and  house  of  representatives,  a  large  train  of  minis* 
ters,  justices,  merchants,  scholars  and  other  princi- 
pal inhabitants  both  of  men  and  women.  The 
streets  were  crowded  with  people,  and  the  windows 
iilled  with  sorrowful  spectators  all  the  way  to  the 
burying  place. 

He  was  a  most  voluminous  writer ;  his  works 
amount  to  more  than  300  tracts,  histories,  biograph- 
ical sketches,  &c,  besides  the  Magnalia,  a  folio 
volume.  The  ''  biblia  Americana,"  in  several  vol- 
umes, ms.  is  deposited  in  the  historical  library. 

It  would  require  more  pages  to  give  a  just  viev/ 

«  LeUers  and  mss.  in  the  cabinet  of  historical  library. 


MAV  315 

£)f  his  writings,  than  we  can  allow  to  an  article  of 
our  biography.  A  volume  of  mcnnoirs  was  pub- 
Ushed  by  his  son  and  successor,  Dr.  Samuel  Ma- 
ther, which  also  contains  every  remarkable  occur- 
rence in  his  life,  a  minute  view  of  his  studies,  and 
of  all  his  publications.  His  son  was  called  to  the  of- 
fice of  pastor  of  the  old  north  church,  1732,  and  in 
1742  a  separation  took  place  by  mutual  ^jgrecment. 
Tlie  people  who  withdrew  built  another  meeting 
house,  where  he  was  fixed  till  he  ended  his  labours* 
He  was  a  man  of  very  extensive  reading,  and  the 
author  of  several  tracts.  He  received  a  diploma  of 
doctor  of  divinity  from  Harvard  College,  1773.  He 
died,  June  27,  1785.* 

Maverick  John,  one  of  the  fathers  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  first  minister  of  the  church  in  Dor- 
chester, came  over  with  Ludlow, Rossiter,  and  others, 
from  the  counties  of  Devon,  Dorset  and  Somerset- 
shire. In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1630,  a  con- 
gregational church  was  gathered  in  the  new  hospi- 
tal at  Plymouth  by  those,  who  intended  to  come  to 
North  America  for  the  purpose  of  enjoying  greater 
civil  and  religious  privileges.  They  observed  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer  to  seek  for  the  divine  ap- 
probation  and  assistance.  In  the  after  part  of  the 
day  they  chose  and  called  those  godly  ministers, 
rev.  John  Warham  and  rev.  John  Maverick,  who 
lived  40  miles  from  Exeter,  to  be  their  spiritual 
guides  ;  who  expressed  their  acceptance,  and  were 
separated  to  the  especial  care  of  the  intended  emi- 
grants. Rev.  John  White  of  Dorchester,  in  Dorset, 
who  was  an  active  instrument  in  promoting  the  set- 
tlement of  New  England,  and  had  been  the  means 
of  procuring  the  charter,  being  present,  preached  in 
the  forepart  of  the  day  ;    and,  in  the  latter  part,  the 

*  The  other  works  of  Dr.  Samuel  Mather  are,  an  essay  oil 
gratitude,  1732;  artillery  election  sermon,  <739;  conventioa 
sermon,  1762  ;  three  funeral  sermons  ;  dissertation  on  the  Lord's 
prayer;  dissertation  on  th,e  venerable  name  of  Jehovah,  1760  ; 
a  poem,  the  sacred  minister,  1772  ;  America  known  to  the  an- 
cients, 1774  ;  a  reply  to  a  pamphlet  entitled,  salvation  for  all  men. 
1780,  &c. 


316  MAY 

hew  installed  pastors  performed.  They  set  sail  on 
the  30th  March,  and  arrived  at  Nantasket,  May  30, 
where  the  master  put  them  on  shore,  notwithstand- 
ing the  engagement  was  to  bring  them  up  Charles 
river.  Here  they  Were  left  in  a  forlorn  wilderness, 
destitute  of  any  habitation,  and  most  of  the  necessa- 
ries of  life.*  Mr,  Maverick  died  in  Boston,  1636^ 
Feb.  30.  A  large  part  of  his  church  had  removed 
to  Windsot-,  Connecticut,  and  it  was  his  intention 
to  follow  them.  He  was  60  years  of  age.  He  was 
a  man  *'  of  a  very  humble  spirit,  and  faithful  in  fur* 
thering  the  work  of  the  Lord  here,  both  in  the 
Churches  and  civil  state."     JVinthrop, 

Maverick  Samui-l  had  planted  himself,  at 
Koddle's  island,  when  gov.  Winthrop  and  his  com- 
f)any  formed  the  settlement  of  Boston.  "  We  went 
to  Massachubetts,"  says  he,  *'  to  find  out  a  place 
for  our  bitting  down.  We  went  up  Mystick  river 
about  6  miles.  We  lay  at  Mr.  Maverick's,  and  re- 
turned home  on  Saturday."  He  seemed  to  have  in 
view  trading  with  the  Indians  more  than  any  thing 
clbc,  but  was  a  ver}  hospitable,  kind  and  benevolent 
man.  His  name  is  mentioned  by  some  writers,  as 
oae  of  the  west  country  people,  who  came  over  to 
Dofcheiiter  ;  by  other  accounts,  he  was  here  before, 
and  he  certainly  was  different  from  that  company  in 
hi.s  religious  principles  and  prejudices.  His  habits 
bt  life  were  aii.o  different.  Josselyn  relates  several 
visits  he  made  to  him,  and,  from  his  account,  he  was 
a  gentleman,  in  very  independent  circumstances, 
and  lived  in  a  very  handsome  styk.f      He  was  a 

•  Topographical  and  chronological  account  of  Dorchester,  by 
the  rev.  T  M.  Harris. 

t  October  2d,  1639,  about  9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Mr.  Ma- 
Verick's  negro  woman  came  to  my  chamber  window,  and  in  her 
own  country  language  and  tune  sang  loud  and  shrill,  going  out  to 
her,  she  used  a  great  deal  of  respect  to  me,  and  willingly  would 
have  expressed  her  grief  in  English ;  but  I  apprehended  it  by  her 
countenance  and  deportment,  whereupon  I  repaired  to  my  host, 
to  learn  of  him  the  cause,  and  resolved  to  intreat  him  in  her  be- 
half, for  that  1  understood  before,  that  she  had  been  a  queen  in 


M  AY  317 

metttber  of  the  church  of  England,  but  was  made  a 
freeman  before  the  law  was  enacted,  that  every  free- 
ftian  should  be  a  member  of  a  congregational  churchy 
but  never  was  chosen  into  any  office.  He  after- 
wards complained  of  the  rigid  dibcipline,  and  op- 
pressive bigotry  of  the  government. 

His  son,  Samuel  Maverick,  esq.  was  in  1664  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  commissioners  to  inquire  into 
the  state  of  the  New  England  provinces,  and  settling 
the  peace  and  security  of  tlie  country,  and  discov- 
ered peculiar  enmity  to  Massachusetts.  In  the  pe- 
tition which  the  general  court  sent  over  to  the  king, 
after  these  commissioners  were  appointed,  they  say, 
that  their  adversaries  had  obtained  ihis  commission 
to  injure  them,  and  that  one  of  the  four  was  their 
professed  enemy^  meaning  this  Mr.  Maverick.  In 
1666,  he  delivered  from  the  king  a  letter  to  the  go- 
vernour,  wherein  he  required  five  persons  to  be  sent 
to  England  to  answer  for  the  conduct  of  the  colony. 
He  could  not  however  overcome  the  prejudices,  or 
defeat  the  policy  of  the  New  England  government. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  revolution  put  them  upon  a 
foundation,  which  was  not  to  be  shaken  by  those, 
who  sought  their  ruin. 

Mayhew  Thomas,  of  Watertown,  was  appoint- 
ed  governour  of  Nantucket,  Martha's  Vineyard, 
and  the  adjacent  islands.  The  earl  of  Sterling 
claimed  all  the  islands  between  Cape  Cod  and  Hud- 
son's river,  and  it  is  evident  that  they  were  not  in- 
cluded in  the  New  England  government.  llie 
grant  is  made  by  his  lordship  to  Thomas  Mayhew, 
and  his  son  Thomas,  Oct,  10,  1641.  And  he  grant- 

lier  own  country,  and  observed  a  very  humble  and  dutiful  g-arb 
used  towards  lier  by  another  negro  ,vvho  was  her  maid.  Mr.  M. 
was  desirous  to  have  a  breed  of  negroes,  and  seeing  siie  would 
not  yield  by  persuasion  to  company  with  a  young  negro  nran  he 
had  in  his  house,  he  commanded  him  will'd  she  nill'd  she  to  ^o  to 
bed  to  her,  which  was  no  sooner  done  than  she  kicked  him  out 
again,  this  she  took  in  high  disdain  beyond  her  slavery  and  this 
was  t?ye  cause  of  her  grief. 


318  MAY 

td  the  same  powers  of  government  which  the  Mas- 
sachusetts people  enjoyed  by  their  charter.  Mr. 
Hutchinson  says,  that  the  grants  of  the  soil  of  these 
islands  could  not  vacate  the  rights  of  the  Indian  sa- 
chems and  proprietors  ;  and  supposes  most  of  the 
inhabitants  or  proprietors  derive  their  titles  from 
Indian  grants  posterior  to  the  grants  to  lord  Sterl- 
ing, or  to  that  made  by  his  agent  to  Mr.  Mayhew 
and  son.  The  worthy  governour  of  these  islands 
bent  his  mind  to  the  business  of  instructing  the  In- 
dians. He  had  talents  to  make  a  figure  in  the  civil 
line  ;  but  the  name  of  Mayhew  is  mostly  known  in 
our  ecclesiastical  annals.  If  any  of  the  human  race 
ever  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  doing  good;  if  any 
christian  ever  could  declare  what  it  is  to  have  peace, 
not  as  the  world  gives,  but  which  passes  the  concep* 
tions  of  those  who  look  not  beyond  this  world,  we 
may  believe  this  was  the  happhiess  of  the  May  hews. 

The  first  Indian,  who  gave  any  good  evidence  of 
being  a  christian,  was  under  the  instruction  of  Mr, 
Mayhew.  It  was  in  the  year  1643,  at  Martha's 
Vineyard.  The  name  of  this  pagan  was  Hiacoomes. 
He  became  a  preacher  to  his  own  people.  The 
worthy  magistrates  made  further  exertions,  and 
**  converted  many  from  the  error  of  their  ways." 
The  younger  Mr.  Mayhew  became  himself  a  preach- 
cr,  and  this  good  work  has  been  carried  on  by  one 
aid  another  of  the  name  and  family  from  that  day 
to  this.  In  1657,  many  hundreds  were  added  to  the 
christian  societies  in  that  part  of  the  country  of  such 
as  might  be  said,  were  **  holy  in  their  conversation," 
and  that  did  not  need  to  be  taught  '*  the  first  prin- 
ciples of  knowledge,"  besides  many  others,  who 
were  superficial  professors. 

Mayhew  John,  had  under  his  care,  in  the  year 
1689,  the  Indian  church,  and  they  consisted  of  a' 
hundred  communicants,  walking  according  to  the 
rules  of  the  gospel. 

Mayhew  Experience,  son  of  John,  was  a  gen- 
tleman of  such  superior  endowments,  according  to 


MAY  si^ 

the  late  Dr.  Chauncy,  who  was  his  mtimate  friend, 
*'  that  he  would,  had  he  been  favoured  with  com- 
mon advantages  of  education,  have  ranked  among 
the  first  worthies  of  New  England  "  He  spent  a 
life  protracted  several  years  beyond  fourscore  in 
the  service  of  the  aboriginals.  He  had  a  character 
for  veracity  and  judgment,  and  in  his  book  enti- 
tled, *'  Indian  Converts,''  an  octavo  volume,  pub- 
lished in  1727,  he  gives  an  account  of  more  than 
30  Indian  ministers,  and  about  80  Indian  men, 
women,  and  young  persons, within  the  limits  of  one 
island,  Martha's  Vineyard.  The  same  writer  pub- 
lished another  book, in  1744,  which  will  give  him  a 
name  among  great  divines  in  any  part  of  Christen- 
dom. It  is  entitled  *'  grace  defended,"  wherein 
the  doctrines  of"  original  sin,  regeneration,  the  dif- 
ference between  common  and  special  grace,  are  con^ 
sidered  and  cleared."  He  received  an  honourary 
degree  of  A.  M.  at  Harvard  College,   1720. 

Mayhew  Zacche us,  son  of  Experience,  was 
employed  by  "  the  Massachusetts  society  for  pro- 
pagating the  gospel  among  the  Indians  and  others, 
in  North  America,"  till  his  death,  in  1803. 

Mayhew  Joseph,  was  also  a  son  of  Experience, 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1730,  and  was  chos- 
en tutor  in  1739,  and  one  of  the  fellows  of  the  cor- 
poration. He  was  a  man  of  superiour  abilities  and 
scholarship. 

Mayhew  Jonathan,  son  of  the  rev,  Experi- 
ence  Mayhew,  was  born  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  1720, 
was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  and  received  the 
honours  of  that  seminary,  in  1744.  While  he  was 
a  youth  he  exhibited  marks  of  an  original  genius, 
and  such  strength  of  mind,  as  was  very  uncommon. 
He  wrote  several  essays  in  prose  and  verse,  which 
were  supposed  to  be  the  productions  of  riper  years, 
before  he  finished  his  studies  at  Cambridge.  In 
1747,  he  was  called  to  take  charge  of  the  west 
church  in  Boston,  and  was  ordained,  June  1 7th ;  Mr. 
Gay,  of  Hingham,  preached  the  sermon  upon  the 


320  MAY 

occasion,  Mr.  Prescott,  of  Salem  village,  gave  the 
fellowship  of  the  churches,  and  the  charge  came 
from  the  lips  of  old  Mr.  Mayhew,  He  soon  dis- 
covered a  liberality  of  sentiment,  and  boldness  of 
spirit,  which  excited  surprise  in  some,  and  drew  ob- 
servations from  others.  He  spake  with  glowing 
sensibility  against  every  priestly  usurpation  over  the 
consciences  of  men,  and  with  peculiar  earnest- 
ness in  favour  of  truth  and  religion.  He  was  a 
steady  and  able  advocate  for  religious  and  civil  lib- 
erty, and  refused  to  preach  for  doctrines  the  com- 
mandments of  men.  In  1749,  he  published  several 
sermons  upon  '*  the  difference  between  truth  and 
falsehood,  right  and  wrong  ;  the  natural  abilities  of 
men  for  discerning  these  differences,"  &c.  which 
gave  him  a  name  among  the  best  preachers,  and 
which  manifest  very  uncommon  talents  with  a  zeal 
according  to  knowledge.  It  is  the  opinion  of  many, 
that  the  doctor  never  exceeded  these  early  prodaC' 
tions,  and  it  is  certain  that  very  few  theological  com- 
positions ever  came  near  them.  In  1750,  he  preach- 
ed a  sermon  on  the  30th  of  January,  which  contained 
*  reflections  on  the  resistance  made  to  kingCharles." 
This  discourse  not  only  gave  offence  to  episcopa- 
lians, but  to  many  sober  minded  dissenters,  who 
thought  it  discovered  more  playfulness  of  fancy  and 
severity  of  satire  than  is  consistent  with  the  gravity 
of  a  clergyman,  or  the  gentle  spirit  of  Christianity. 
Jt  was  however  much  admired,  and  passed  through 
vseveral  editions  in  England.  It  abounds  in  lively 
and  pointed  remarks,  and  is  certainly  less  excep- 
tionable than  many  sermons  preached  30th  January 
by  episcopal  ministers  ofhigh  church  opinions,  who 
liave  abused  all  denominations  of  dissenters,  while 
they  have  talked  about  the  saintship,  and  angelick 
qualities,  and  divinity,  of  Charles,  a  frail  mortal  like 
themselves.  The  university  of  Aberdeen  presented 
Mr.  May  hew  with  a  diploma  of  doctor  of  divinity  the 
year  after  this  sermon  was  published.  In  the  year 
1754j  the  doctor  was  chosen  to  preach  the  election 


MAY  321 

sermon,  in  which  he  speaks  of  the  origin  of  civil 
government,  and  its  end,  in  the  style  of  a  friend  to 
liberty  and  the  British  constitution,  as  settled  at  the 
revolution.  He  was  a  whig  of  the  first  magnitude* 
**  Having  been  initiated  in  youth,"  said  he,  in  another 
discourse  upon  a  different  subject,  '*  in  the  doc- 
trines  of  civil  liberty,  as  they  were  taught  by  such 
men  as  Plato,  Demosthenes,  Cicero,  and  other  re  • 
nowned  persons,  among  the  ancients  ;  and  such  as 
Sydney  and  Milton,  Locke  and  Hoadley,  among  the 
moderns,  I  liked  them ;  they  seemed  rational.  And 
having  learnt  from  the  holy  scriptures,  that  wisCj 
brave,  and  virtuous  men  were  always  friends  to  lib- 
erty ;  that  God  gave  the  Israelites  a  king  in  his  an- 
ger, because  they  had  not  sense  and  virtue  enough 
to  like  a  free  commonwealth,  and  that  where  *  the 
spirit  of  the  Lord  is  there  is  liberty,'  this  made 
me  conclude  that  freedom  was  a  great  blessing,' ' 
&c* 

In  1755,  the  doctor  published  two  solemn  and 
pathetick  sermons,  after  the  earthquake,  Nov.  23, 
with  an  "appendix,  giving  a  very  particular  account 
of  the  time,  duration,  process,  extent  and  effects  of 
the  great  earthquake." 

The  same  year  he  printed  a  large  volume,  con- 
taining fourteen  sermons,  ''  on  hearing  the  word, 
receiving  it  with  meekness,"  Sec.  In  this  book  he 
inculcated  the  doctrines  of  grace,  as  he  thought 
them  delivered  by  Jesus  Christ  and  his  apostles. 
Moderate  Calvinists  have  spoken  well  of  several  of 
these  discourses,  which  are  written  in  a  very  evan- 
gelical style,  although  it  is  evident  the  author  had 
learnt  some  lessons  in  the  school  of  Episcopius, 
Arminius  and  Locke.  At  the  end  of  this  volume  is 
a  sermon  upon  the  shortness  of  life,  in  which  are 
two  marginal  notes  on  the  doctrines  of  the  Trinity 
and  Solomon's  song,  that  excited  some  severe  re- 
marks from  Trinitarians,  and  which  all  who  agree 
with  the  doctor  in  sentiment,  must  wish  were  express* 

*  Sermon  on  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  1766. 

f)   s 


322  MAY 

ed  differently.  Such  subjects  ought  not  to  be  treats 
ed  in  a  ludicrous  manner.  The  doctor  himself "  de- 
clared his  wish  that  thev  had  not  been  written;'^ 
and  sent  to  England  to  prevent  their  being  inserted 
in  the  London  edition.  They  were,  however,  print- 
ed. Probably,  his  mind  was  not  known  at  the 
time  the  book  was  emitted  from  the  press. 

In  1763,  ^4r.  East  Apthorp  published  his  **  con- 
siderations on  the  institution  and  conduct  of  the  so- 
ciety for  propagating  the  gospel."  This  provoked 
a  controversy  in  which  several  famous  men  engag- 
ed, and  in  which  the  brilliant  abilities  of  Dr.  May- 
hew  were  fully  displayed.  He  wrote  a  book  enti- 
tled, '*  observations  on  the  charter  and  conduct  of 
the  society  for  propagating  the  gospel  in  foreign 
parts,"  &c.  To  this,  a  reply  was  made  by  several 
members  of  the  society  in  America ;  and  by  Dr. 
Seeker,  archbishop  of  Canterbury.  The  doctor  repli- 
ed to  the  book  entitled,  a  '•  candid  examination  of  his 
observations,"  supposed  to  be  the  joint  production  of 
Mr.  Ganer  and  Dr.  Johnson,  and  declares  the  title 
page  to  be  false  ;  he  endeavours  to  shew  the  work 
to  be  destitute  equally  of  candour  and  of  truth.  His 
second  defence,  or  **  remarks  upon  an  anonymous 
tract  entitled,  an  answer  to  Dr.  Mayhew's  observa- 
tions on  the  charter,"  &c.  is  written  with  a  more  gen* 
tie  spirit  j  though  we  are  frequently  struck  with  thcr 
poignancy  of  his  wit,  it  is  evident  that  he  avoided 
severe  strokes  of  satire.  The  doctor  wrote  no  more 
in  the  episcopal  controversy ;  but  having  printed 
two  discourses  '•  upon  the  goodness  of  God,"  he 
was  attacked,  for  certain  sentiments  there  delivered, 
with  some  severity,by  Mr.  Cleveland, a  minister  in 
the  county  of  Essex  ;  to  whom  he  sent  "  a  letter  of 
reproof,"  which  discovered  too  much  warmth  of 
temper  in  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  It  must  be  ac- 
knowledged, that  the  charge  of  Mr.  C.  was  unfair 
and  groundless  ;  but  it  was  easy  to  write  a  defence 
of  his  sermons  without  such  bitter  sarcasnTis>  ajrid 
personal  reflections. 


M  I  N  323 

Mr.  Hopkins  of  Great  Barrington,  afterwards  of 
Newport,  had  a  desire  to  engage  Dr.  Mayhcw  in  ai 
jcontroversy.  Rewrote  a  book,  "  upon  the  promis- 
es of  the  gospel,"  in  which  he  makes  remarks  upon 
two  sermons  published  by  the  doctor  on  Luke  xiii. 
^4.  These  sermons  speak  of ''  promises  to  the  un- 
regenerate."  Many  Calvinists  thought  the  senti- 
ments advanced  by  Dr.  Hopkins  were  contrary  to 
truth,  and  of  a  very  bad  tendency,  and  wrote  a- 
gainst  his  book  ;  but  Dr.M,  made  no  reply  to  him. 

In  the  year  1765,  Dr.  Mayhew  preached  the  Dud- 
leian  lecture,  upon  **  Popish  idolatry,"  and  the  suc- 
ceeding year  a  particular  discourse  "  upon  the  re- 
peal of  the  stamp  act."  These  were  his  last  pub- 
lications. He  died,  July  8,  1766,  in  the  46th  year 
of  his  age.  No  American  author  ever  obtained 
higher  reputation.  He  would  have  done  honour  to 
any  country  by  his  character,  or  by  his  writings.* 

MiNOT  George  Richards  was  a  descendant 
from  one  of  the  most  ancient  families  of  Massachu- 
setts, The  first  of  the  name  died  at  Dorchester, 
1671,  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  maji 
of  respectability,  and  a  ruling  elder  of  the  church. 
The  subject  of  this  article  was  born  in  Boston,  re- 
ceived the  rudiments  of  his  education  at  the  south 
latin  school,  and  was  admitted  a  student  of  Harvard 
College  in  1774.  He Was  there  distinguished  for 
decorum  of  behaviour,  a  most  amiable  disposition, 
^nd  close  attention  to  his  studies.  He  excelled  in 
•history  and  the  belles  lettres,  and  was,  upon  several 

*  Besides  the  public?itions  above  mentionecj,  he  printed  two 
^volumes  of  sermons,  8vo,  one  addressed  to  the  youth  of  his  con- 
gregation,  the  other  upon  the  1 1 9th  psalm,  59th  anfJ  60th  verses. 
These  are  not  the  doctor's  best  performances,nor  have  they  a  high 
rank  among  sermons  printed  in  New  England.  They  are  writ- 
ten in  a  very  careless  and  diffuse  styje,  and  might  be  compressed 
into  a  book  of  sjnall  size.  Many  of  his  friends  wondered  that  he 
4)ublished  them.  He  printed  also  thanksgiving  sermons,  1753> 
59,  60  ;  also  a  sermon,  occasioned  by  the  great  fire,  which  hap- 
pened, March  20,  1760  ;  and  a  funeral  sermon  after  the  death  of 
that  upright  magistrate,  judge  Sewall,  who  died  the  same  year, 


324  M  I  N 

occasions,  the  publick  orator  of  his  class.  Reside 
the  orations  usually  delivered  at  that  seminary,  he 
was  chosen  to  speak  upon  a  melancholy  occasion, 
when  the  university  was  deprived  of  Mr.  Wads- 
worth,  one  of  the  most  useful  men  in  the  govern- 
ment and  instruction  of  the  society.*  No  funeral 
oration  was  ever  more  interesting  to  the  hearers,  or 
better  adapted  to  the  occasion.  It  gained  him  great 
credit  among  gentleman  of  taste  and  learning,  and 
^*  his  classmates  were  eager  to  confer  on  him  every 
honour  which  it  was  in  their  power  to  bestow." 
This  class  received  the  honours  of  the  college  in 
1778,  by  a  general  diploma.  For  several  years  there 
was  no  publick  commencement,  the  country  being 
then  involved  in  the  calamities  of  the  revolutionary 
w^ar.  Mr.  Minot  entered  upon  the  study  of  the 
law  in  Boston,  with  a  gentleman  of  distinction  in 
his  profession,  and  had  for  his  fellow  student  the 
late  Fisher  Ames,  esq.      The  intimate  friendship 

•  John  Wadsworth,  who  taught  logick,  metaphysicks  and 
ethicks,  was  graduated,  1762,  and  elected  tutor  in  1770.  He  was 
distinguished  for  fine  talents  more  than  extensive  erudition.  No 
tutor  was  ever  more  calculated  for  the  branch  of  instruction  \yhicli 
fell  to  his  share.  As  an  acute  logician,  he  made  accurate  dis- 
tinctions, was  fluent  in  speech,  and  copious  in  ideas.  He  could 
make  tlie  worse  appear  the  better  reason,  which,  from  love  of 
disputation,  he  frequently  did  ;  or  defend  truth  in  the  most  live- 
ly and  ingenious  manner.  He  was  as  fond  of  politicks  as  meta- 
physicks, and  being  on  the  side  of  the  loyalists  at  the  commenc- 
ement of  the  war,  would  have  lost  his  tutorship,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  great  affection  of  the  students,  and  the  exertions  of 
some  friends  in  the  corporation,  who  urged  in  his  favour  this  at- 
tachment of  his  pupils,  and  his  admirable  faculty  of  commu- 
nicating his  ideas,  so  very  necessary  in  an  instructor,  and  so  ve- 
ry seldom  found.  It  was  suggested  likewise  that  his  political  er- 
rors were  more  in  appearance  than  reality.  His  fondness 
for  talking  had  led  him  to  express  himself  imprudently  some- 
times; but  it  v/as  no  more  in  his  heart  than  in  his  power  to  do  any 
thing  injurious  to  the  commonwealth.  He  had,  however,  many 
political  enemies,  and  obtained  the  vote  only  by  one,  though  he 
was  of  the  body,  who  made  the  election.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  corporation  from  the  year  1774  to  1778,  the  year  of  his  death. 
Mr.  W.  was  a  collateral  branch  of  the  same  family  with  presi- 
dent Wadsworth,  who  died,  1737. 


M  I  N  325 

formed  at  this  juvenile  age  was  strengthened  by 
mutual  expressions  of  good  will,  and  tokens  of  es- 
teem, until  death  divided  them.  At  the  funeral  of 
Judge  Minot,  Mr.  Ames  was  one  of  the  pall  bearers. 
In  the  year  1781,  when  the  commonwealth  of  Mas- 
sachusetts  was  blessed  with  a  new  constitution  of 
government,  Mr.  M.  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
house  of  representatives.  He  was  in  this  office  dur* 
ing  the  insurrections,  which  distracted  the  publick 
concerns  of  the  year  1786.  By  his  office  he  was  led 
to  a  minute  acquaintance  with  the  causes  of  the  dis- 
turbance, the  proceedings  of  the  government,  and  the 
conduct  of  the  army  raised  upon  that  occasion. 
These  troubles  of  our  country  he  reviewed  in  an 
historical  narrative  of  the  rebellion,  which  gave  him 
high  reputation  as  a  writer  ;  it  was  read  with  great 
interest  and  pleasure  by  the  inhabitants  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  was  afterwards  persuaded  by  his 
friends,  to  write  a  continuation  of  Hutchinson's  his- 
tory of  Massachusetts  bay,  which  excited  less  at- 
tention, but  is  a  very  valuable  book  ;  and  will  fre- 
quently be  in  the  hands  of  persons,  who  wish  to 
know  the  affairs  of  their  own  country.  The  period 
he  describes  exhibits  the  most  tranquil  state  of 
things.  It  was  not  prolifick  of  great  events,  like 
succeeding  years  of  violence  and  rage,  when  politi- 
cians had  their  influence,  and  excited  the  tumult  of 
the  people  ;  when  we  beheld  the  traces  of  war  ia 
our  own  fields,  or  heard  the  cry  of  human  distress 
in  our  houses,  as  well  as  the  high  way.  Histories  ol 
such  times  are  eagerly  sought  after,  while  many 
take  up  a  book  with  frigid  indiffi^rence,  which  only 
tells  of  peaceful  regions,  and  seasons  of  publick  fe- 
licity. 

Mr.  Minot  was  twice  elected  by  the  people  of 
Boston  to  deliver  publick  orations,  which  he  per- 
formed to  great  acceptance.  In  1 782,  he  pronounced 
the  annual  oration,  5th  of  March.  And  in  1800,  h', 
spake  the  funeral  eulogy  upon  Washington,  which 
has  been  highly  praised  in  other  places  besides  his 


326  M  I  N 

native  town.  In  1787,  Mr.  M.  was  chosen  clerk  of 
the  convention  which  adopted  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States.  In  1792,  the  govcrnour  and 
council  appointed  him  judge  of  probate  for  the  coun- 
ty of  Suffolk.  He  was  exactly  fitted  to  fill  this  sta- 
tion. Soft,  pleasant,  and  affable,  he  could  speak  peace 
to  the  troubled  bosom,  whilst  he  performed  all  the 
duties  of  his  office  with  the  purest  integrity.  The 
<ieep  sensibilities  of  those  who  knew  him  in  this 
station,  when  they  heard  of  his  death j  afforded  affect., 
ing  evidence  of  his  worth. 

Judge  Minot  was  never  fond  of  the  hurry  and  bus- 
tle of  the  world,  and  therefore  did  not  make  that 
figure  at  the  bar,  which  some  of  his  friends  expect- 
^ed  from  his  talents  and  elocution.  He  was  not  bold 
an  his,  conceptions,  nor  had  he  that  discursive  man- 
ner of  reasoning,  or  pathos  of  expresssion,  which 
are  requisite  for  a  first  rate  pleader.  The  legal 
knowledge  he  possessed,  gave  him  advantage  in 
other  pursuits  which  were  connected  with  his  pro- 
fessional business ;  and  he  cultivated  his  mind  by  a 
variety  of  studies.  Among  his  companions  his 
opinion  was  valued,  and  the  publick  opinion  was 
such,  as  to  gratify  every  feeling  of  an  ambitious  man, 
especially  a  man  whose  principles  of  virtue  guided 
the  path  to  honour. 

Besides  his  office  of  judge  of  probate,  he  was 
judge  of  the  municipal  court  in  the  town  of  Boston. 
He  was  also  president  of  the  Massachusetts  charita- 
ble fire  society.  Of  this  institution  he  was  one  of 
the  founders,  and  also  of  the  Massachusetts  histori- 
cal society.  He  was  also  a  fellow  of  the  American 
academy  of  arts  and  sciences. 

The  character  of  judge  Minot  was  delineated  in 
the  newspapers  by  several,  who  spake  the  language 
of  truth,  while  they  felt  the  sympathy  of  friendship. 
Justice  was  also  done  him  by  John  Quincy  Adams, 
esq.  in  an  admirable  oration  before  the  charitable 
fire  society.  But  the  most  interesting,  full,  and  ac- 
curate memoir  is  in  the  8th  volume  of  the  collections 


MOO  327 

of  the  Massachusetts  historical  society.  It  was 
written  by  one  whose  compositions  always  show  the 
hand  of  an  elegant  writer,  and  who  in  a  relation  to 
judge  Minot  was  as  the  friend  nearer  than  a  broth, 
er.  Whoever  would  wish  for  more  minute  occur- 
rences in  the  life  of  Mr.  Minot  than  can  be  ex- 
pected in  a  sketch  for  this  work,  is  referred  to  that 
valuable  paper.*  Judge  Minot  died  in  the  midst  of 
his  life  and  usefulness,  Jan.  3d,  1802, 

His  other  publications  are  fugitive  pieces  in  the 
magazines  and  newspapers  ;  also  an  oration  deliver- 
ed before  the  charitable  fire  society. 

MooDEY  Joshua, was  the  son  of  William  Mood- 
ey  of  Vewbury,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1653  :  he  was  a  preacher  in  the  town  of  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire,  1658.  A  vote  for  his  establish- 
ment there  passed  in  1660,  though  a  church  was 
not  properly  organized  till  1671.  "  An  account  of 
the  gathering  of  this  church"  is  preserved  in  his 
own  hand  writing,  and  is  a  valuable  document  of 
our  early  history.  While  Cranfield  was  governour 
of  New  Hampshire,  Mr.  Moodey  was  the  subject  of 
persecution.  Whenever  a  petty  tyrant  indulges  his 
malignant  humour,  he  renders  himself  ridiculous, 
as  well  as  causes  mischief  to  others.  He  imprison- 
ed this  faithful  pastor  of  the  church  in  Portsmouth, 
because  he  did  not  administer  the  Lord's  supper 
after  the  way  of  the  church  of  England.  After  be- 
ing in  prison  13  weeks,  he  was  dismissed  with  a 
charge  to  preach  no  more.  He  was  invited,  how- 
ever, to  Boston,  and  preached  to  the  people  of  the 
first  or  old  church  from  the  year  1684,  the  time  of 
his  banishment,  to  1693,  and  then,  by  advice  of  coun- 
cil, returned  to  his  old  charge  at  Portsmouth. 

Before  he  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  Boston 
church,  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  college, 
which  place  he  declined  to  accept;  but  acted  as  one 
of  the  fellows  of  the  corporation.  The  people  of. 
Boston  were  very  much  attached  to  him,  and  much 

•  Vol.  8th,  pages  86,  7,  8,  9,  kc. 


;.:28  MOO 

disappointed  when  he  went  to  Portsmouth.  He 
often  visited  them  after  he  left  the  town  ;  and  dur- 
ing a  visit,  in  the  year  1697,  was  taken  ill,  and  died 
on  the  4th  July,  etat,  65»  Dr.  Cotton  Mather 
preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  preserved  his 
name  in  the  Magnalia. 

The  only  publication  of  Mr.  Moodey  is  in  the  li- 
brary of  the  Massachusetts  historical  society.  It  is 
a  small  volume  containing  the  substance  of  several 
sermons  upon  the  ''  benefit  of  communion  with  God 
in  his  house. "^ 

*  A  letter  from  Mr.  Bentley  oF  Salem  to  Mr.  Alden,  the  pre- 
sent librarian  of  the  Massachusetts  historical  society,  represents 
the  character  of  Mr.  Moodey  to  great  advantage  j  he  certainly 
was  one  of  the  most  judicious  and  worthy  men  of  those  times. 

"  In  the  times  of  the  witchcraft  in  Salem  village,  no  person, 
distinguished  for  property,  and  known  in  the  commercial  world, 
was  accused  but  Philip  English.  He  came  young  into  America 
from  the  island  of  Jersey,  lived  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Holling- 
worth,  a  rich  inhabitant  of  Salem,  and  afterwards  married  his  on- 
ly daughter  and  child,  Susanna.  The  wife  had  received  a  better 
education,  than  is  common  even  at  this  day,  as  proofs,  I  hold,  suf- 
ficiently discover. 

"From  some  prejudices,  as  early  as  April  21,  1692,  she  was 
accused  oF  witchcraft,  examined,  and  committed  to  prison  in  Sa- 
lem. Her  firmness  is  memorable.  Six  weeks  she  was  confin- 
ed ;  but,  being  visited  by  a  fond  husband,  her  husband  was  also 
accused,  and  confined  in  the  same  prison.  By  the  intercession  of 
friends,  and  by  a  plea  that  the  prison  was  crowded,  they  were  re- 
moved to  Arnold's  gaol  in  Boston  till  the  time  of  trial. 

"  In  Boston,  upon  giving  bail,  they  had  the  liberty  of  the  town, 
only  lodging  in  prison  Upon  their  arrival  Messrs.  Willard  and 
Moodey  visited  them,  and  discovered  every  disposition  to  console 
them  in  their  distress.  On  the  day  before  they  were  to  return  to 
Salem  for  trial,  Mr.  Moodey  waited  upon  them  in  the  prison,  and 
invited  them  to  the  publick  worship.  On  the  occasion  he  chose 
for  the  text,  if  they  persecutk  tou  in  one  city,  flee  to 
ANOTHER.  In  the  discourse  with  a  manly  freedom  he  justified 
every  attempt  to  escape  from  the  forms  of  justice,  when  justice 
was  violated  in  them.  After  service  Mr.  Moodey  visited  the 
prisoners  in  the  gaol,  and  asked  Mr.  English,  whether  he  took  no- 
tice of  his  discourse  ?  Mr.  English  said  he  did  not  know  whether 
he  had  applied  it  as  he  ought,  and  wished  some  conversation  up- 
on the  subject.  Mr,  Moodey  then  frankly  told  him  that  his  life 
was  in  danger,  and  he  ought  by  all  means  to  provide  for  an  es- 
cape. Many,  said  he,  have  suffered.  Mr.  English  then  replied, 
God  will  not  suff'er  them  to  hurt  me.      Upon  this  reply,  Mrs, 


MOR  329 

Morton  Charles,  minister  of  the  church  in 
Charlestovvn,  was  the  son  of  Nicholas  Morton,  min- 
ister of  St.  Mary  Overy's,  in  Southwack.  The  fam- 
ily descended  from  a  respectable  stock  ;  among  the 
ancient  branches  we  find  Thomas  Morton,  secreta- 
ry to  king  Edward  111.  Charles,  the  eldest  son  of 
Nicholas,  was  born  A.  D.  1626,  was  sent  to  Wad- 
ham  College,  Oxford,  and  had  the  character  of  a 
studious  and  pious  youth.  He  was,  at  the  same 
time,  zealous  for  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the 

English  said  to  her  husband,  do  you  not  think  that  tlicy,  who  have 
suffered  already,  are  innocent  ?  lie  said,  yes.  Why  then  may 
not  we  suflxir  also  ?  Talte  Mr.  Moodey's  advice.  Mr.  Moodey 
then  told  Mr.  Lnglish  that,  if  he  would  not  carry  his  wife  away, 
he  would.  He  then  informed  him  that  he  had  persuaded  several 
worthy  persons  in  Boston  to  make  provision  for  their  conveyance 
out  of  the  colony,  and  that  a  conveyance  had  been  obtained,  en- 
couraged by  the  governour,  gaoler.  Sec.  which  would  come  at 
midnight,  and  that  proper  recommendations  had  been  obtained  tp 
gov.  Fletcher  of  New  York,  so  that  he  might  give  himself  no 
concern  about  any  one  circumstance  of  the  journey ;  that  all 
things  were  amply  provided.  The  governour  also  gave  letters 
to  gov.  Fletcher,  and,  at  the  time  appointed,  Mr.  English,  his 
wife,  and  daughter  were  taken  and  conveyed  to  New  York.  He 
found  before  his  arrival,  that  Mr.  Moodey  had  dispatched  letters, 
and  the  governour,  with  many  private  gentlemen,  came  out  to 
meet  him ;  and  the  governour  entertained  him  at  his  own  house, 
and  paid  him  every  attention  while  he  remained  in  the  city.  On 
the  next  year  he  returned. 

"  In  all  this  business,  Mr.  Moodey  openly  justified  Mr.  Eng- 
lish, and,  in  defiance  of  all  the  prejudices  which  prevailed,  ex- 
pressed his  abhorrence  of  the  measures,  which  had  obliged  a  use* 
iul  citizen  to  flee  from  the  executioners  Mr.  Moodey  was  com- 
mended by  all  discerning  men  ;  but  he  felt  the  angry  resentment 
of  the  deluded  multitude  of  his  own  times,  among  whom  some  of 
high  rank  were  included.  He  soon  after  left  Boston  and  return- 
ed to  Portsmouth. 

"  Mrs.  EngHsh  died  in  1 694,  at  42  years  of  age,  in  consequence 
of  the  ungenerous  treatment  she  had  received.  Her  husband  di- 
ed at  84  years  of  age,  in  1734. 

"  This  is  the  substance  of  the  communications  made  to  me  at 
different  times  from  madam  Susanna  Harthorne,  his  great-grand- 
daughter, who  died  in  Salem,  28  August,  1802,  at  the  age  of  80 
years,  who  received  the  account  from  the  descendants  of  Mr.  En- 
glish, who  dwelt  upon  his  obligations  to  Mr.  Moodey  with  great 
pleasure." 

T  t 


330  M  O  R 

church  of  England.  He  was  afterwards  chosen  fel^ 
low  of  the  college,  being  an  eminent  scholar.  He 
excelled  in  various  branches  of  science,  but  was  pe- 
culiarly fond  of  mathematicks.  On  this  account,  he 
drew  the  attention,  and  experienced  the  friendship,  of 
Dr.  Wilkins  then  warden  at  the  university,  and  af- 
terwards celebrated  among  the  literati  of  Europe. 
Mr.  Morton  was  one  of  the  ejected  ministers,  in 
1668.  Being  unable  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  he  set  up  an  academy  at  Newington  Green. 
For  this  business  he  was  very  well  qualified,  and 
many  excellent  scholars  were  educated  under  his 
care.  He  had  a  peculiar  talent  of  winning  youth  to 
the  love  of  virtue  and  learning,  both  by  his  plea- 
sant conversation,  and  a  familiar  way  of  making 
difficult  subjects  easily  intelligible.  He  came  to 
New  England  in  1685,  and  was  chosen  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Charlestown,  and  vice  president  of  Har- 
vard College.  He  died,  April,  1697,  in  the  80th 
year  of  his  age. 

In  Dr.  Calamy's  "  account  of  ejected  ministers 
by  the  act  of  uniformity,"  is  a  vindication  of  him- 
self, written  by  this  Charles  Morton,  from  a  charge 
brought  against  him  for  teaching  at  a  private  acade- 
my, contrary  to  the  rules  of  the  university,  and 
thereby  breaking  his  oath.  This  takes  up  more 
than  20  pages,  8vo.  Besides  this  manuscript,  which 
was  transcribed  by  most  of  Mr.  Morton's  pupils, 
he  drew  up  several  systems  of  the  arts  and  sciences, 
which  he  explained  in  his  lectures.  The  doctor 
has  also  preserved  another  paper  of  his,  which  is  en- 
titled, *'  advice  to  candidates  for  the  ministry  under 
the  present  discouraging  circumstances. ' '  This  was 
written  during  the  oppressive,  as  well  as  licentious 
reign  of  Charles  H.  It  is  a  paper  of  about  15  pag- 
es, containing  excellent  rules  of  conduct,  and  some 
of  them  will  apply  to  other  times.  Mr.  Morton  be- 
ing vice  president  of  Harvard  College,  while  in  this 
office,  composed  a  system  of  logick,  which  was  co- 
pied by  the  students  every  year  as  they  became 


MOR  331 

xnembers  of  that  society.  It  was  afterwards  laid 
tiside  for  one  on  a  more  improved  plan,  by  Mr. 
Brattle.  A  copy  of  each  is  in  the  cabinet  of  the 
historical  society,  among  the  rare  specimens  of 
American  literature.* 

Morton  Nathaniel,  one  of  the  first  planters 
of  INew  Plymouth,  should  have  an  honourable  men- 
tion  among  those,  who  have  deserved  well  of  their 
country.  He  is  more  celebrated  as  an  author  than 
for  any  remarkable  events  of  his  life.  He  was 
doubtless  highly  esteemed  by  his  fellow  planters, 
as  they  made  him  a  magistrate,  and  he  was  secre- 
tary of  the  court  for  the  jurisdiction  of  New 
Plymouth.  Probably  facts  are  preserved  concern- 
ing him  in  the  old  colony,  and  some  account  of  his 
active  services,  but  these  we  have  not  been  able  to 
obtain.  As  a  writer  of  the  original  events  of  the 
plantations  he  is  known  to  all,  who  turn  their  atten- 
tion to  the  aifairs  of  New  England.  No  book  has 
been  oftener  quoted  than  *'  Morton's  memorial." 
In  this  book  are  precious  documents  for  the  use  of 
future  historians,  who  recur  to  early  times,  or  "  re- 
member New  England  in  the  day  of  her  smallest 
things."  The  work  was  printed  in  1669.  It  is 
dedicated  to  gov.  Prince,  and  has  in  its  favour  the 
testimony  of  two  of  the  greatest  and  best  divines  of 
New  England,  Mr.  Higginson  of  Salem,  and  Mr. 
Thacher  of  Weymouth,  afterwards  minister  of  the 
Old  South,  Boston.  They  say  the  '*  author  is  an 
approved  godly  man  ;  and  that  the  work  is  compil- 
ed with  modesty  of  spirit,  simplicity  of  style,  and 
truth  of  matter,  containing  the  annals  of  New  Eng- 

*  His  other  works  are,  the  little  peacemaker,on  Prov.  xiii  10  ; 
foolish  pride,  the  Make-bate,  8vo,  1674  ;  debts  discharge,  Rom. 
xiii.  8  ;  the  gaminpj  humour  considered  and  reproved  ;  the  way 
of  good  men,  for  wise  men  to  walk  in,  1684  ;  season  birds,  Jeve- 
jny  viii.  7  ;  meditations  on  the  first  chapters  of  Exodus,  and  be- 
ginning of  Samuel,  Other  treatises  are  also  mentioned  by  his  bio- 
grapher, viz.  the  spirit  of  man,  1.  Thess.  v.  23  ;  the  stork  in  the 
heavens,  Jer.  viii.  7  ;  several  pieces  in  the  philosophical  transac- 
tions, 1675.  He  was  generally  brief  and  compendious,  being  a 
declared  enemy  to  large  Tolnmes. 


312  N  E  L 

land  for  the  space  of  47  years,  with  special  refer^ 
ence  to  Plymouth  colony,  where  the  author  made 
his  constant  abode,'' 

This  memorial  has  gone  through  many  editions. 
A  gentleman,  every  way  qualified,  indulged  the  ex- 
pectations of  his  friends  a  few  years  since,  that  he 
would  give  an  improved  edition  of  this  work.  No- 
thing but  the  busy  scenes  of  his  active  and  useful 
life  could  have  diverted  him  from  finishing  it. 

From  some  documents  "^A^hich  have  lately  appear- 
ed, it  is  evident  that  Mr.  Morton  had  his  preju* 
dices,  and  suffered  them  to  operate  too  powerfully 
against  the  sectaries,  which  had  disturbed  the  church 
and  commonwealth*  A  letter  from  Gorton  to  the 
author  of  the  memorial,  preserved  in  Hutchinson's 
cohection  of  papers,  is  well  worth)'  of  perusal.  Nor 
was  he  impartial  in  all  respects  in  describing  the 
character  of  Roger  Williams,  as  may  be  seen  from 
comparing  his  account  Vv^ith  Winthrop's  journal, 
Calicnder's  century  seniion,  or  Backus's  history. 

He  doubtless  thought  his  remarks  were  just,  but 
excellent  men  frequently  know  not  the  spirit  they 
are  of.  Men  biassed  by  religious  zeal,  in  pointing 
out  the  heresies  of  those,  who  differ  from  them, 
should  frequently  pause  for  the  sake  of  this  inquiry, 
Who  can  understand  his  errors  ?  possibly  we  our- 
selves  may  be  in  the  wrong. 

This  worthy  magistrate  of  New  Plymouth  died 
in  a  good  old  age,  but  the  exact  time  wc  are  unable 
to  tell. 

Nelson  John,  made  a  conspicuous  figure  at  the 
time  of  the  Massachusetts  revolution,  when  the  so- 
vereign people  put  down  sir  Edmund  Andross,  and 
appointed  a  different  governour  and  council.  He 
was  at  the  head  of  the  soldiers,  who  went  and  de- 
manded the  fort,  and  to  w^hom  sir  Edmund  surren* 
dercd  himself.  He  was  a  near  relation  to  sir  Tho- 
mas Temple,  and  attached  to  the  cause  of  freedom, 
though  he  was  an  episcopalion.  His  conduct  shews 
him  to  be   a  man   of  virtue  and   principle.      He 


N  R  L  333 

might  have  been  highly  in  favour  with  Randolph, 
but  he  detested  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the  gov- 
ernment. On  the  other  hand,  had  he  conformed  to 
the  manners  of  the  people,  and  left  the  church  of 
England,  he  would  have  been,  not  only  highly  es- 
teemed, but  exalted  to  honour  after  the  revolution. 
On  account  of  his  being  an  episcopalian,  Hutch- 
inson tells  us,  he  was  not  allowed  any  share  in  the 
administration  after  it  was  settled. 

He  went  upon  a  trading  voyage  to  Nova  Scotia, 
and  was  taken  prisoner.  When  he  was  at  Quebec 
he  sent  a  letter  to  the  court  of  Massachusetts,  which 
gave  particular  intimations  of  the  designs  of  the 
French,  and  which  he  wrote  at' the  risque  of  his  life. 
It  i»  dated,  August  26,  1692.  Mr.  Hutchinson  took 
it  from  the  Massachusetts  files,  and  published  it  to 
do  honour  to  his  memory.  He  also  acquaints  us 
that, inconsequence  of  i\Titing  this  letter. he  w^as  or- 
dered to  be  carried  upon  the  field  where  two  French- 
men were  shot,  who  were  concerned  with  him  in 
giving  the  intelligence  ;  he  expected  the  same  fate, 
but  was  sent  to  France,  where  he  remained  in  pris. 
on  two  years.  *'  A  gentleman  who  had  taken  no- 
tice of  the  person  who  carried  the  victuals  from  day 
to  day,  had  the  curiosity  to  inquire  what  prisoner 
was  there,  and  to  speak  to  him  at  the  grate,  and  to 
ask,  if  he  could  do  him  any  service.  "  Mr.  Nelson 
desired  only  to  have  a  letter  sent  to  England,  to  in- 
form sir  Purbeck  Temple  of  his  condition,  which 
was  done,  and  soon  after,  a  demand  was  made  of 
his  release  or  exchange.  He  was  then  looked  upon 
as  a  person  of  some  importance.  He  was  sent  to 
the  Bastile,  and,  just  before  the  peace  at  Rysvvick, 
was  allowed  to  go  to  England,  upon  his  parole,  and 
security  given  by  a  French  gentleman  for  his  return. 
The  peace  being  concluded,  he  intending  to  return, . 
was  forbad  to  do  it  by  king  William  ;  yet,  to  pre- 
vent any  trouble  he  went  and  surrendered  himself. 
Being  discharged,  he  was  brought  into  trouble  up- 
on his  return  to  England,  for  going  contrary  to  the 


334  NEW 

king's  order,  but  at  length  returned  to  his  fluiiily  af- 
ter ten  or  eleven  years  absence."     Hutchinson. 

Newman  Francis,  esq.  was  secretary  of  the 
colony  of  New  Haven  when  the  commissioners  of 
the  united  colonies  agreed  to  make  war  upon  the 
Dutch,  at  Manhadoes,  A.  D.  1653.  In  their  records 
we  find,  that  agents  were  appointed,  who  were  to  ex- 
amine the  whole  affair  in  a  conference  with  gov. 
Stuy  vesant,  and  require  satisfaction.  These  agents 
were  Francis  Newman,  one  of  the  magistrates  of 
New  Haven,  capt.  John  Leverett,  afterwards  gover- 
nour  of  Massachusetts,  and  Mr.  William  Davis. 
The  Dutch  governour  avoided  the  examination, 
and  the  agents  returned  without  obtaining  satisfac- 
tion. The  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies 
immediately  decided  for  war  ;  several  of  the  colo- 
nies raised  troops,  but  the  general  court  of  Massa- 
chusetts put  a  stop  to  their  proceedings  ;  nothing 
could  induce  them  to  act  offensively  upon  this  oc- 
casion. **  In  direct  violation  of  the  articles  of  the 
confederation,  they  resolved,  that  no  determination 
of  the  commissioners,  should  they  all  agree,  should 
bind  the  general  court  to  act  in  an  offensive  war, 
which  should  appear  to  such  general  court  to  be  un- 
just." This  declaration  caused  great  disturbance 
to  the  sister  colonies;  they  expressed  their  grief  and 
resentment,  and  it  almost  effected  a  dissolution  of 
the  union.  Another  evil  was  consequential  upon 
this.  The  towns  bordering  upon  the  Dutch  settle- 
ments determined  they  would  carry  on  the  war,  and 
there  were  insurrections  in  divers  places.  Mr. 
Newman  was  elected  by  the  magistrates  of  New 
Haven,  with  Mr.  Goodyear,  the  deputy  governour, 
to  visit  the  towns,  and  compose  their  minds. 

Mr.  Newman  was  the  next  vear  chosen  commis- 
sioner  of  the  united  colonies.  At  the  election  at 
New  Haven,  1658,  he  was  chosen  governour.  Their 
excellent  chief  magistrate,  Mr.  Eaton,  died  the  year 
before  :  Mr.  Goodyear,  the  deputy  governour,  died 
also  about  the  same  time  in  London.      Trumbull 


NEW  335 

says,  **  he  was  a  worthy  man  of  a  very  respectable 
family.'*  We  find  his  name  often  among  the  com- 
missioners of  the  united  colonies. 

Mr.  Newman  continued  in  the  chief  seat  of  gov- 
ernment until  the  year  1661.  He  died  that  year 
greatly  lamented.  He  was  secretary  for  many  years, 
under  the  administration  ofgov.  Eaton, and  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  tJie  colony.  He  is  re- 
presented, as  *'  a  gentleman  of  piety  and  unblemish- 
ed morals,  happily  imitating  his  predecessor  both 
in  publick  and  private  life."  Records  of  the  united 
colonies ,     Tru  mbulL 

Newman  Samuel,  author  of  the  Cambridge 
concordance,  was  educated  at  the  university  of  Ox- 
ford, and  was  an  able  and  laithful  minister  of  the 
gospel  many  years  in  his  own  country.  In  the  year 
1638,  he  came  to  New  England,  and  spent  some 
time  at  Dorchester  ;  then  removed  to  Weymouth, 
and  resided  there  about  5  years.  His  next  remove 
was  to  a  place  bordering  on  Providence  plantations* 
which  he  named  Rehoboth,  according  to  the  quaint 
style  of  that  day,  but  which  retains  its  name  to  the 
present  times.  He  lived  nineteen  years  with  his 
people,  was  a  very  lively  preacher  a  hard  student, 
and  a  pastor  well  beloved  by  his  flock.  The  man- 
ner of  his  death  was  peculiar.  He  had  a  certain 
premonition  of  it,  and  seemed  to  triumph  in  the 
prospect  of  its  being  near.  He  was  apparently  in 
perfect  health,  and  preached  a  sermon  upon  these 
words.  Job  xiv.  14,  '*  all  the  days  of  my  appointed 
time  will  1  wait  till  my  change  come."  In  the  af- 
ternoon of  the  following  Lord's  day,  he  asked  the 
deacon  to  pray  with  him  saying,  he  had  not  long  to 
live.  As  soon  as  he  had  finished  his  prayer,  he  said 
the  time  was  come  that  he  must  leave  this  world. 
But  his  friends  seeing  no  immediate  signs  of  disso- 
lution, thought  it  was  the  influence  of  imagination. 
But  he  turned  round  saying,  angels  do  your  office, 
immediately  expired.  This  may  appear  like  other 
marvellous  circumstances  related  in  the  Magnalia, 


336  NOR 

but  it  is  handed  down  by  persons  not  connected 
with  that  author,  and  was  as  much  confirmed  as  any 
report  depending  upon  tradition,  and  it  is  said  that 
accounts  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Newman  were  written 
at  the  time,  and  sent  to  England,  as  well  as  propa- 
gated through  the  towns  of  New  England.  He  di- 
ed, July  5,  1663,  in  the  63d  year  of  his  age.  Mr. 
Norton  of  Boston  and  Mr.  Stone  of  Hartford  died 
the  same  year. 

His  concordance  of  the  bible,  was  superiour  to  any 
that  ever  had  been  published.  It  was  a  very  elabo- 
rate work  ;  but  the  edition,  which  was  called  the 
Cambridge  concordance,  was  much  improved  in 
England,  where  it  received  this  title. 

Newton  Thomas,  attorney  general  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  died  in  Boston,  1721,  May  28.  He 
was  educated  in  England,  was  much  beloved  in  his 
native  country,  and  highly  esteemed  here  for  his 
virtue,  integrity  and  honour,  while  he  was  comp- 
tr oiler  of  the  customs,  which  w^as  his  first  appoint- 
ment ;  and  in  his  profession  as  counsellor  of  law. 
''  He  was  affable,  courteous,  circumspect,  devout, 
exemplary  for  family  government,  and  all  the  duties 
of  humanity." 

Norris  Edwab«,  teacher  of  the  church  in  Sa- 
lem, was  ordained,  March  18,  1640.  After  Mr. 
Peters  left  the  church  he  had  the  sole  charge  of  it 
for  18  years,  and,  by  his  prudence  and  moderation, 
it  grew  and  flourished  :  it  was  preserved  in  a  state 
of  general  tranquillity  while  other  towns  were  agi- 
tated  by  fanaticks,  and  the  commonwealth  swarm- 
ed with  sectaries.  He  was  more  liberal  in  his  ideas 
of  toleration  than  most  ministers  in  New  England, 
and  was  never  active  in  any  of  the  proceedings 
against  the  Gortonists  or  Anabaptists.  So  little 
did  he  interfere  in  the  affairs  of  other  churches,  that 
when  the  platform  of  church  discipline  was  adopt- 
ed in  1648,*  he  persevered  in  a  platform  of  his  own 
church,  and  preserved  not  only  the  love  of  hispeo^ 

•  Bentley. 


NOR  337 

pie,  but  the  respect  of  his  neighbours  unto  his  death, 
which  happened,  April  10,  1659. '^ 

In  an  account  of  eminent  men  by  father  Barnard, 
of  Marblehead,  Mr.  Norris's  name  appears  with  the 
first  class.  He  was  celebrated  as  a  political  writer, 
as  well  as  a  great  divine.  In  1642,  a  book  was  writ- 
ten, by  Mr.  Saltonstall,  one  of  the  assistants,  wdierein 
*'  the  standing  council  was  declared  to  be  a  sinful 
innovation."  A  reply  to  it  wms  made,  by  Mr.  Dud- 
ley. But  we  learn  from  gov.  Winthrop,  that  anoth- 
er answer  was  given  by  "  Mr.  Norris,  a  grave  and 
judicious  elder,  teacher  of  the  church  at  Salem, 
who,  not  suspecting  the  author,  liandled  him  some- 
what sharply  according  to  the  merit  of  the  matter." 

In  1653,  Mr.  Norris  again  appeared  as  a  writer 
on  the  politicks  of  the  day.  The  other  colonies 
were  disposed  to  declare  war  against  the  Dutch  set- 
tlements. The  commissioners  of  the  united  colo- 
nies, with  the  exception  of  Simon  Bradstreet,  ha4 
agreed  upon  this  measure  as  absolutely  necessary. 
The  general  court  of  Massachusetts  would  not  con- 
sent to  the  decree  of  the  commissioners,  but  Mr. 
Norris  wrote  in  favour  of  them.  He  represented 
such  a  war  as  just  and  proper  :  '<  that  the  spending 
so  much  time  in  parlies  and  treaties,  after  all  the  in- 
juries they  had  received,  and  while  the  enemy  was 
insulting  them,  would  make  them  appear  contemp- 
tible to  the  Indians  ;  that  it  was  dishonouring  God, 
in  whom  they  professed  to  trust,  and  bringing  a 
scandal  upon  themselves.  He  insisted  that  they 
ought  not  to  leave  their  brethren  at  New  Haven  to 
bear  all  the  evils  which  the  enemies  of  New  England 
were  disposed,  and  ready  to  bring  upon  tliem  :  and 
that  if  they  did  not  engage  in  this  business,  they  de- 
served the  curse  which  the  angel  of  the  lord  utter- 

*  Another  thing  has  been  mentioned  concerning  the  Salem 
people,  which  implies  a  peculiar  setness  in  their  own  way.  When 
all  the  churches  in  Massachusetts  Buy  used  the  New  Kngland 
psalms,  they  continued  to  use  Ainsworth.  These  were  sung  in 
this  town  till  the  year  1675,  so  afraid  were  they  of  tlu-  spirit  of 
iilinovation,  or  else  fond  of  singularity  in  tiicir  mode  of  worship, 
u  a 


538  NOR 

cd  against  Meroz.  This,  he  said,  he  presented  in  the 
name  of  many  pensive  hearts." 

Mr.  N orris  left  a  son,  who  was  preceptor  of  the 
i;rammar  school  in  Salem  from  1640  to  1684.  He 
died  this  year,  aged  70  years. 

Norton  John,  was  born  May  6,  1606,  at  Star- 
ford  in  Hertfordshire.  At  14  years  of  age  he  en- 
tered Pcler  house,  Cambridge,  but  was  obliged  to 
leave  the  universit)^  after  he  had  taken  his  first  de- 
gree, on  account  of  some  domestick  misfortunes, 
whereby  his  flither's  estate  suffered.  He  obtained 
a  curacy  of  the  church  in  his  native  town,  and  was 
at  the  same  time  teacher  of  the  school.  His  talents 
WTre  such  as  would  enable  him  to  make  a  figure  ia 
any  situation.  He  might  have  obtained  preferment 
in  the  episcopal  church,  and  he  was  solicited  to  ac- 
cept a  fellowship  in  the  university  ;  but  his  dislike 
of  the  ceremonies  prevented  him  from  accepting  a 
considerable  benefice.  He  also  had  an  antipathy  to 
Arminianism,  which  was  the  prevailing  sentiment 
of  the  ministers  of  the  church  of  England,  In  the 
year  1634,  he  was  coming  to  America  in  the  same 
ship  with  Mr.  Thomas  Shepherd,  but  a  storm  drove 
them  back  again,  and  he  did  not  accomplish  his 
purpose  till  the  next  year.  It  is  said,  in  Winthrop's 
journal,  that  he  arrived  at  Plymouth,  October  10, 
16S5,  the  vessel  being  driven  into  that  harbour  by 
contrary  winds,  but  it  appears  from  other  accounts 
that  Mr.  Winslow,  the  agent  for  New  Plymouth  at 
the  court  of  Great  Britain,  had  made  overtures  to 
him  to  take  the  charge  of  that  ancient  church.  He 
])assed  the  winter  with  them,  and  they  were  so  fond 
<;f  his  preaching,  that  they  set  aside  Mr.  Ralph 
Smiih,  their  pastor,  a  man  of  less  gifts,  and  pressed 
Mr.  Norton's  continuance  ;  yet  he  left  them,  and 
came  to  Massachusetts.  He  was  immediately  in- 
vited to  settle  with  the  church  at  Ipswich,  where 
he  continued  till  the  death  of  Mr.  Cotton.  The  old 
church  in  Boston,  had  a  very  high  opinion  of  his  ac- 
complishments.     When  the  synod  met  at  Cam- 


NOR  339 

bridge,    1647,  the   Boston  church  would   send   no 
niesscni>;ers   till  they  heard  Mr.  N.  preach  a  lecture 
upon  the  nature  of  councils,  the  power  of  the  civil 
magistrate  to  call  such  councils,  and  the  duty  of  the 
churches  in  regarding  their  advice  ;  they  then  chose 
3  delegates  to  accompany  their  elders,  who  had  tak- 
en their  scats  at  the  synod.     Upon  tjie  death  of  Mr. 
Cotton  their  eyes  were  turned  to  him,  therefore,  as 
the  most  proper  person  to  supj^y  the  place  of  that 
great  man.     Our  ecclesiastical  annals^  compiled  by 
Cotton  Mather,   relate  the  difficulties  4n   obtaining 
him,  and  mention  also  Mr.  Cotton^s  dream,  that "  he 
saw  Mr.  Norton  coming  into  Boston  upon  a  white 
horse,  Avhich  actually  took  place  afterwards  ;"  but 
it  may  suffice  for  this  accdiuit  to  say,  that  Mr.  Nor- 
ton left  Ipswich  by  the  adVice  of  council,  and  that 
having  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  Boston  people, 
it  pleased  the  great  head  of  the  church  to  add  lustre 
to  his  character,   and  ^ve  success  to  his  ministry. 
Had  he  confined  himself  to  his  spiritual  concerns, 
his  sun  would  have  set  without  a   cloud ;   but  he 
meddled  with  the  affiiirs  ofgovernment,  and  mingled 
the    character    of    the  politician    with  the    divine, 
which  gave  a  sudden  blaze  to   his  reputation,    but 
thick  darkness  succeeded.  Cotton  Mather  savs,  '*  that 
New  England,  being  a  country  whose  interests  were 
remarkably  enwTapped  in  ecclesiastical  circumstan- 
ces, ministers  ought  to  concern  themselves  in  poli- 
ticks ;"  and  he  was  a  lively  example  of  his  own  ad- 
vice.   He  says,  likewise,  that  had  Mr.  Norton  done 
nothing  more  than  to  prevent  hostilities  between  the 
English  people  and  the  Dutch,  at  Manhadoes,  it  had 
been  worth  his  coming  into  the  station  he  held  in 
Boston.     N  orris  of  Salem,  as  good  a  man,  was  of  a 
different  opinion  ;  and  Dr.  Trumbull,  a  modern  his- 
torian of  excellent  parts  and  character,   has  repre- 
sented the  conduct  of  Massachusetts  in  not  assist- 
ing the  other  colonies  at  the  time,  as  most  base  and 
treacherous.    Mr.  Norton  rendered  himself  so  pop- 
ular bv  his  interference  in  this   business,   that  the 


340  NOR 

general  court  afterwards  chose  him  joint  agent  with 
Simon  Bradstreet  to  present  the  address  to  his  ma^ 
jesty,  Charles  II.  It  was  a  most  delicate  and  diffi- 
cult business  to  transact.  It  required  so  much  art 
and  dissimulation, that  a  minister  of  the  gospel  ought 
not  to  have  been  concerned  in  it.  Cromwell  was 
the  friend  of  New  England.  Our  clergy  had  justi- 
fied every  circumstance  of  the  usurpation,  andpub- 
lickly  announced  the  piety,  as  well  as  justice  of  the 
court,  which  had  brought  their  monarch  to  the  scaf- 
fold. Men  who  had  grown  grey  in  practising  po- 
litical devises  would  have  been  puzzled  to  make  an 
address  to  his  son  and  successor,  and  conceal  their 
own  hypocrisy.  The  conduct  of  our  agents,  the 
unkind  treatment  they  received  from  those  in  whom 
they  trusted,  especially  the  resentment  of  the  fierce 
republican  spirit  of  this  new  world,  which  may  be 
compared  to  Hercules  in  his  cradle,  have  been  re^ 
lated  in  the  histories  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Hutch- 
inson gives  the  most  particular  account.  They  all 
agree  that  Mr.  Norton's  death  was  the  consequence. 
This,  however,  is  alv/ays  said  of  a  man,  who  dies 
suddenly,  after  meeting  with  trouble.  But  often  the 
cause  is  taken  for  the  effect.  A  man  has  bodily 
complaints  from  the  melancholy  disposition  of  his 
mind,  but  it  more  frequently  is  the  case,  that  a  man 
becomes  melancholy  and  wretched  from  diseases  of 
the  body.  Mr.  N.  was  of  a  sickly  constitution,  and 
died  of  an  apoplexy.  It  was  imputed  to  chagrin 
and  grief  on  account  of  the  treatment  he  received. 
The  other  agent  lived  to  be  95  years  old.  He  was 
more  unpopular,  for  the  blame  was  imputed  mostly 
to  him.  He  was,  however,  always  conversant  with 
state  affairs,  and  could  calculate  upon  the  fickleness 
of  the  people,  and  the  Vexation  of  office.  We  have 
only  then  to  learn  this  lesson,  that  every  man  should 
mind  his  own  business.  He  died,  April  5,  1663. 
He  was  preparing  the  afternoon  exercises  when  he 
\vas  taken  out  of  the  world.  Many,  who  had  enjoy- 
ed the  benefit  of  his  labours,  bewailed  his  departure. 


NOR  341 

Their  honest  hearts  were  wounded,  and  they  moist- 
ened his  grave  with  their  tears. 

Mr.  Norton  was  distinguished  as  a  writer  as  much 
as  he  excelled  in  preaching.  When  a  youth  he  was 
one  of  the  finest  scholars  at  the  university.  While 
he  cultivated  his  master's  vineyard,  he  studied  eve- 
ry branch  of  divinity.  In  his  retired  situation, 
when  he  was  teacher  of  the  church  of  Ipswich,  he 
was  unanimously  chosen  to  answer  the  questions 
concerning  church  government,  which  Apollonius, 
by  request  of  the  divines  of  Zealand,  had  sent  over 
to  the  divines  of  New  England.  This  was  written 
in  pure  elegant  latin,  A.  D.  1645.  To  judge  of 
its  merit  we  may  quote  the  words  of  Mr.  Fuller  in 
his  church  history  ;  *'  of  all  the  authors  I  have  pe- 
rused concerning  those  opinions,  none  to  me  was 
more  informative  than  John  Norton,  one  of  no  less 
learning  than  modesty,  in  his  answer  to  Apollonius, 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Middleburgh."  Mr.  Nor- 
ton also  advised,  modelled,  and  recommended  the 
Cambridge  platform,  1647. 

Another  book  he  wrote  by  desire  of  the  general 
court  in  answer  to  one  entitled,  "  the  meritorious 
price  of  man's  redemption.'^  He  was  likewise  the 
author  of  a  famous  work,  **  the  orthodox  evangel- 
ist," highly  recommended  by  Mr.  Cotton. 

After  he  came  to  Boston  he  wrote  the  life  of  his 
predecessor  Mr.  Cotton,  which  was  reprinted  in 
England.  He  also  wrote,  at  the  desire  of  the  gene- 
ral  court,  ''  a  tract,  on  the  doctrines  of  the  Qua- 
kers." 

He  preached  the  election  sermon  in  1661,  Jer. 
XXX.  17,  this  was  published  after  his  death,  with 
two  other  sermons,  one  on  John  xiv.  3,  the  last  ser- 
mon he  ever  preached.  The  other  was  a  sermon  he 
preached  at  Thursday  lecture. 

To  these  sermons  was  annexed,  a  translation  of 
the  famous  letter  he  wrote  in  latin  to  Mr.  Dory,* 

♦  John  Dury  makes  some  figure  in  the  early  annals  of  Massa- 
chusetts on  account  of  the  famous  letter,  written  to  the  divines  of 


342  NOW 

who  began  about  the  year  1635  to  labour  in  a  work 
which  none  were  ever  able  to  accomplish,  viz.  the 
pacification  of  all  the  reformed  churches.  Mr.  Nor- 
ton's  letter  was  signed  by  more  than  40  ministers 
of  New  England. 

NovvEL  Increase  was  appointed  a  magistrate  of 
the  province  of  Massachusstts  Bay,  in  the  year 
1629  ;  and  came  over  with  gov.  Winthrop  in  the 
Arabella. 

He  was  nephew  to  Alexander  Nowel,  dean  of  St. 

New  England.  This  makes  part  of  a  large  plan  he  had  in  view 
of  reconciling  the  different  sects  of  protestants.  Tlie  same  thing 
had  been  attempted  by  the  early  reformers  of  Germany.  But 
those  who  adhered  to  the  Ausburgh  confession  and  the  Calvinists 
could  never  agree.  When  men  of  liberal  minds  endeavoured  to 
form  a  union,  the  spirit  of  bigotry  operated  upon  some,  who 
would  throw  firebrands  in  the  way  ;  and  the  fire  being  kindled 
they  separated  m  anger,  and  wrote  with  zeal.  Sometimes  the 
princes  of  Europe  discovered  their  schemesof  policy ;  and  the  vir- 
tue of  priests  yielded  to  the  pride  of  opinion.  It  is  said,  that  Du- 
ry  shewed  more  activity  and  perseverance  in  the  work  of  charity, 
than  any  man  of  that,  or  the  preceding  age.  Amidst  many  vexa- 
tions, and  opposition  that  required  the  most  intrepid  and  invinci- 
ble patience,  he  wrote,  exhorted,  prayed  and  disputed.  He  em- 
ployed all  the  means  which  human  wisdom  could  suggest  to  put 
an  end  to  the  dissentions  and  animosities,  which  were  excited 
among  christians  of  different  denominations.  He  travelled  in  all 
the  countries  of  i-urope,  and  endeavoured  to  accommodate  him- 
self lo  the  prejudices  of  the  several  parties.  He  addressed  mag- 
istrates and  ministers,  sovereigns  and  princes;  painted  in  lively 
colours  the  advantages,  the  utility,  and  importance  of  the  scheme 
he  had  formed,  hoping  to  interest  the  wise  and  good  in  his  cause  j 
but  his  hopes  and  expectations  were  all  frustrated. 

Though  many  cf^mmended  his  design,  and  admired  his  can- 
dour, he  found  few  disposed  to  assist  him.  And  he  was  often  de- 
ceived by  those,  who  soothed  him  with  their  smiles,  without  any 
view  of  aiding  him  by  their  credit  and  their  counsels. 

He  had  enemies,  who  ascribed  wrong  motives  to  his  zeal,  and 
the  Lutherans  returned  invectives  often  to  his  kind  advice.  He 
was  at  last  beat  from  his  labours  and  oppressed  with  injurious 
treatment,  and  was  obliged  to  acknowledge,  that  he  had  undertak- 
en what  was  impracticable.  He  ended  his  days  in  repose  and  re- 
tirement at  Cassel. 

He  was  a  native  of  Scotland. 

The  letter  of  the  ministers  of  New  England  was  penned  by  Mr. 
Norton.  It  contains  high  commendations,  without  any  pledge  or 
promises  of  their  aid  in  the  coalition. 


NOW  343 

Paul's,  in  queen  Elizabeth's  reign,  or  else  the  dean 
was  his  great  uncle.  This  we  learn  from  Mr. 
Hutchinson,  who  says,  that  he  was  a  worthy,  pious 
man.  When  our  fathers  planted  their  church  in 
Charleston  n,  they  chose  him  ruling  elder.  He 
acted  in  this  capacity,  until  a  difference  of  opinion 
arose  among  the  people,  and  a  question  was  agitat- 
ed, "  whether  an  officer  of  the  church  could  act  as  a 
civil  magistrate?"  It  was  decided  that  the  offices 
were  inconsi^teut.  He  resigned  the  eldership, 
therefore,  and  was  a  very  active  and  useful  person 
in  the  civil  affairs  of  the  province.  For  many  years 
he  was  employed  in  publick  life,  and  succeeded 
Mr.  Bradstreet,  as  secretary  of  the  colony.  For 
many  years  he  was  assistant.  His  name  with  Endi- 
cott,  Dudley,  and  other  magistrates,  appears  in  an 
association,  1649,  ao^ainst  wearing  the  hair  long,  as 
a  thing  which  tended  to  corrupt  good  manners. 
He  also  joined,  with  several  other  counsellors,  in 
calling  a  special  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of 
the  united  colonies,  April,  1653,  when  the  country- 
was  so  much  alarmed  by  the  machinations  of  the 
Dutch  with  the  Indians.  He  was  one  of  the  mag- 
istrateswho  put  the  question  to  Nnmegret,Pessicus 
and  Mixam,  sachems  of  the  Narragansetts.  The 
result  of  this  meeting  has  been  considered  in  anoth- 
er place.* 

NowEL  Samuel,  supposed  to  be  the  son  of  se- 
cretary  Nowel,  was  employed  in  several  publick  of- 
fices. He  was  one  of  the  assistants  in  1681  ;  of 
the  high  republican  party,  who  adhered  to  the  old 

♦  The  names  of  our  magistrates  for  the  year  1629  were,  John 
Winthrop,  governour,  Thomas  Dudley,  deputy  governour,  Mat- 
thew Cradock,  Thomas  Goff,  sir  Richard  Sallonstall,  Isaac  John- 
son, Samuel  Aldersley,  John  Venn,  Jolin  Humphrey,  Simon 
Whercomb,  Increase  Nowel,  Richard  Percy,  Nathaniel  Wright, 
Samuel  Vassal,  Theophilus  Eaton,  Thomas  Adams,  I'homas 
Hutchins,  George  Foxcroft,  William  Pinchcn,  John  Pocock, 
Christopher  Corolson,  William  Coddington,  Simoti  nrads.treet, 
Thomas  Sharp  ;  1730,  were  added,  Roger  Ludlow,  Edward  Ros- 
siter,  John  Endicot ;    1632,  John  Winthrop,  jun. 


544  N  O  Y 

charter  ;  and  one  of  the  magistrates  against  whom 
Randolph  exhibited  to  the  lords  of  the  council  arti- 
cles of  high  misdemeanour.*  When  Mr.  agent 
Mather  was  in  England,  two  of  the  assistants  join- 
ed with  him  in  an  address  to  the  king,  Samuel  Now- 
el  and  Elisha  Hutchinson,  but  they  did  not  succeed 
in  their  object.  The  name  of  Mr.  Nowel  is  not 
among  the  counsellors  under  the  new  charter  of  WiU 
liam  and  Mary. 

NoYES  James,  teacher  of  the  first  church  in 
Newbury,  was  born,  1608, at  a  town  in  Wiltshire. 
He  came  to  New  England,  in  1634.  He  had  an  in^ 
vitation  to  settle  at  Watertown ,  but  preferred  to  set- 
tle with  his  friend,  Mr,  Parker,  at  Newbury.  These 
men  taught  in  one  school  at  Newbury  in  England. 
They  came  to  America  in  the  same  ship,  were  pas- 
tor and  teacher  of  the  same  church,  and  lived  to- 
gether in  one  house  till  death  divided  them.  They 
agreed  together  about  the  doctrine  and  discipline  of 
the  churches  more  than  with  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country  in  general.  In  a  memoir  of  Mr.  Noyes, 
written  by  his  nephew,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Sa- 
lem, it  is  said  that,  at  the  desire  of  Mr.  Wilson  and 
others,  he  preached  upon  a  particular  occasion 
against  the  Antimonian  principles  then  prevailing, 
which  he  did  with  good  success,  and  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  those,  who  iiivited  him.  Mr.  Wilson  dearly 
loved  him.  There  must  indeed  have  been  some- 
thing very  sweet  and  amiable  in  the  disposition  of 
the  man,  for  he  was  much  loved  and  honoured  in 
Newbury  ;  he  had  his  friends  in  every  part  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  met  with  no  disturbance  from  the 
bigotry  of  the  people  in  any  part  of  the  government, 
though  he  spoke  and  wrote  against  the  prevailing 
sentiments  of  the  magistrates  and  ministers.  He 
was  no  more  a  republican  in  politicks  than  in  church 

*  This  faction  of  the  general  itourt,  as  he  calls  them,  were 
Danforth,  Gookin,  Stiltonstall,  Nwel,  Richards,  Davy,  Gedney 
and  Appleton,  magistrates  ;  and  Fisher,  Cooke,  Brattle,  Stod- 
dard, Bathurst,  Wait,  Hathorne,  Johnson,  Hutchinson,  Sprague, 
OaKes,  Holbroke,  Gushing,  Hammond  and  Pike,  deputies. 


OAK  345 

discipline.  He  bitterly  lamented  the  death  of 
Charles  I.  Both  Mr.  Parker  and  he  had  high  expec- 
tations of  good  times  if  Charles  II.  should  ascend 
the  throne.  He  did  not  live  to  have  his  expecta- 
tions frustrated  ;  but  his  colleague  lived  to  see 
that  his  restoration  brought  unhappy  times  to  New 
England.  He  might  say.  perhaps,  the  evil  arose 
not  from  the  kingly  government,  but  having  such  a 
king  as  Charles  to  reign  over  them.  In  church  go- 
vernment Mr.  Noyes  had  peculiar  sentiments,  that 
were  neither  presbyterian  or  congregational ;  the 
*'  brethren  could  act  in  certain  matters,  and  join  in 
church  censures,  but  the  pastor  might  take  the 
power  from  their  hands."  He  no  way  approved  of 
a  governing  vote  in  the  fraternity,  being  afraid 
equally  of  schism,  and  of  ceremonies.  He  was  in 
opinion  for  episcopus,  prae^es  ;  but  not  episcopus 
princeps.  He  died  in  the  4Sth  year  of  his  ministry, 
October  22,  1656.* 

Oakks  Urian  was  the  son  of  a  plain  man  *' who 
dwelt  in  tents,"  to  use  the  language  of  Dr.  Mather, 
but  *'  deserving  of  everlasting  remembrance."  He 
tells  us  likewise  that,  when  Mr.  O.  was  a  child,  he  was 
indangerof  being  drowned,  and  *' that  his  life  was  sav- 
ed by  a  kind  of  miracle,  that  he  might  be  the  Moses 
of  his  people*"  He  came  to  New  Kngland  with  his 
parents  about  the  year  1634,  and  was  graduated  at. 
Harvard  College,  1649.  He  excelled  as  a  scholar  ; 
but  his  mind  was  bent  especially  to  theological  stu- 
dies. His  first  sermon  he  preached  at  Uoxbury, 
and  soon  after  returned  to  his  native  country.  He 
was  settled  at  Titchtield,  till  the  Bartholomew  act 
ill  1662,  which  deprived  so  many  worthy  men  of 

*  His  works  are,  "  a  catechism  for  children,*'  which  continued  in 
use  many  years.  "  The  temple  measured  ;'*  this  is  the  book  al- 
luded to  by  Mr.  Baxter  when  he  said  he  was  a  lover  of  the  New 
England  churches  according  to  the  New  hnyjhind  model,  as  Mi-. 
Noyes  had  explained  it.  A  copy  of  this  rare  book  is  in  the  libra- 
ry of  the  historical  society.  He  also  wrote  a  work  entitled, 
"  Moses  and  Aaron,"  which  was  afterwards  printed  in  England, 
and  dedicated  to  Charles  H. 

w  w 


346  OAK 

their  livings.  Mr.  Oakes  at  this  time  was  Roticecl 
by  a  gentleman  in  whose  family  he  had  once  been 
chaplain,  and  received  competent  provision  for  his 
maintenance ;  but  having  received  an  invitation  from 
the  church  at  Cambridge,  he  left  the  old  country  in 
1671,  and  succeeded  Mr.  Mitchel  in  his  pastoral 
church.  To  come  after  such  a  man,  who  was  a  star 
of  the  first  magnitude  in  th\s  American  hemisphere, 
it  was  necessary  to  give  dili[]^ence  to  his  studies,  and 
all  the  duties  of  his  office.*  If  the  powers  of  his 
mind  were  not  equal  to  his  predecessor's,  they  were 
superiour  to  most  other  men.  He  was  an  excel- 
lent preacher,  and  was  esteemed  as  highly  for  his 
Tcnowledge  as  for  his  pulpit  talents.  He  was  the 
man  to  whom  the  government  of  the  college  turned 
their  attention  to  fill  the  chair,  w^hen  president  Hoar 
resigned  his  office.  He  wonld  not  accept  it  without 
he  could  combine  his  pastoral  duties  with  the  du- 
ties of  his  station  in  the  college.  He  was  allowed 
to  hold  both  offices,  and  was  able  to  give  universal 
satisfaction.  His  days,  however,  were  short,  ex- 
cept  they  be  measured  with  his  usefulness.  He  di- 
ed suddenly,  July  25,  1681,  in  the  50th  year  of  his 
age,  and  10th  of  his  ministry. 

•  Mr.  Mitchel,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Cambridge,was  highly 
celebrated  for  his  learning,  but  more  for  the  native  vigour  of  his 
snind.  Dr.  Mather  calls  him,  the  "  matchless  Mitchel."  He  died 
young,  hence  the  greater  eclat  to  his  reputation.  He  ought  tu 
have  been  the  subject  of  a  particular  article  in  this  biographical 
work,  but  the  notices  which  v^ere  prepared  were  mislaid.  There 
is  the  less  need  to  make  an  apology,  as  the  publick  have  been 
^:i:ratified  by  a  very  excellent  memoir  from  Dr.  Holmes,  in  his 
history  of  Cambridge.  (Historical  collections,  vol.  vii.) — Mr.  M. 
died  in  1668,  in  the  43d  year  of  his  age.  His  writings  were  few. 
He  printed  the  election  sermon,  1667  ;  a  discourse  upon  "  the 
i^lory  of  believers,"  first  printed  at  London.  Several  editions  of 
it  have  been  printed  in  America.  Mr.  Mitchel  also  wrote  in  de- 
fence of  the  Synod,  1662,  in  opposition  to  Increase  Mather,  who 
surrendered  himself  "  a  captive  to  his  victorious  arguments,*' 
says  Dr.  Cotton  Mather.  The  same  author  tells  us  what  the 
great  Mr.  Baxter  said  :  *'  That  if  there  could  be  convened  an 
oecumenical  council  of  the  whole  christian  world,  Mr.  Mitch^ 
would  be  worthy  to  be  the  moderator  of  it." 


O  L  I  547 

His  publications  are,  a  set  of  astronomical  calcu- 
lations with  this  motto, 

''  Parvum  parva  decent,  sed  inest  sua  t^ratia  parvis." 

an  elegy  on  Mr.  Shephard  of  Charlestown  ;  the 
artillery  election  sermon,  1672  ;  the  election  ser- 
mon, 1673.  These  were  all  printed  by  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Green,  Cambridge. 

Oliver  Daniel  was  the  son  of  capt.  Peter  Oli- 
ver, a  gentleman  of  property  and  reputation,  and 
one  of  the  principal  founders  of  the  old  south  church 
in  Boston,  in  May,  1669.  Capt.  Oliver  had  3  sons  ; 
Nathaniel,  a  merchant,  and  James,  a  celebrated  phy- 
sician, at  Cambridge,  who  died  young,  and  Daniel, 
the  subject  of  the  present  article.  This  gentleman 
was  one  of  the  first  merchants  of  the  place ;  and 
was  employed  in  many  publick  offices,  all  of  which 
lie  discharged  with  fidelity,  and  to  universal  accept- 
ancCr  He  was  one  of  the  selectmen,  overseer  of  the 
poor,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  representative,  and  one 
of  his  majesty's  council.  He  died  suddenly  in  the 
month  of  July,  1732,  in  the  69th  year  of  his  age* 
^'  In  his  will,  among  other  legacies,  he  bestowed  a 
large  house,  called  the  spinning  school,  for  winch 
use  he  first  designed  it,  and  which  cost  him  600 
pounds,  for  the  benefit  of  poor  children,  that  may 
learn  to  read  the  scriptures."* 

Mr.  Oliver  married  the  second  daughter  of  the 

^Mr.  Prince  preached  upon  the  de^th  of  Mr.  Daniel  Oliver, 
senbr,  Mr.  Oliver,  jun.  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Oliver,  sister  ot  gov. 
Belcher,  who  was  then  in  the  chair.  She  died  in  1735.  These 
sermons  were  printed,  and  are  three  very  excellent  discourses. 

Mr.  Mather  Byles  also  published  a  poem  after  the  death  af 
Mr.  O.  in  1 732.  It  was  inscribed  to  gov.  Belcher,  the  brother  in 
law,  ai  whose  desire  it  was  written.  Mr.  Byles  the  minister  of  the 
churdi  in  Hollis  street,  Boston,  printed  a  little  volume  of  poems. 
He  corresponded  with  Pope,  who  sent  him  a  copy  of  his  works. 
He  also  printed  a  mimber  of  sermons,  and  received  a  diploma  of 
D.  D.  from  Aberdeen.  He  was  a  florid  preacher,  with  a  very  fine 
Toice.  Notices  of  him  were  prepared  for  this  work,  but  with 
many  other  lives  were  suppressed,  lest  the  volume  should  be  of 
too  large  a  size.  Whoever  wishes  to  see  a  particular  account  of 
him  is  referred  to  a  memoir  handsomely  written  in  the  4th  volume 
^f  the  Polyanthos,  a  periodical  paper,  lately  printed  in  Boston. 


348  O  L  I 

honourable  Andrew  Belcher,  esq.  by  whom  he  had 
several  children,  all  o£  whom  were  graduated  at 
Harvard  College,  and  made  a  considerable  figure  in 
the  world. 

Oliver  Daniel,  the  eldest  son  of  the  honour- 
able Daniel  Oliver,  commenced  bachelor  of  arts  in 
1722,  and  proceeded  master  in  1725.  He  applied 
himself  to  merchandize,  for  which  he  had  an  ex- 
cellent genius  and  ability.  He  went  to  London  in 
1726,  travelled  over  a  great  part  of  Europe,  was 
preparing  to  come  home,  but  was  taken  sick  of  the 
small  pox,  at  London,  and  died  July  5th,  1727,  in 
the  24th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  buried  under  the 
church,  in  Fenchurch  street. 

"  His  short  life,"  says  Mr.  Prince,  '*  was  a  worthy 
example  of  a  wise  and  virtuous  conduct,  to  the  youth 
of  his  native  country,  both  at  home  and  abroad  ; 
and  his  premature  death  an  affecting  instance  of  the 
uncertainty  of  their  earthly  prospects  and  expecta- 
tions." 

Oliver  Andrew,  lieut.governour  of  Massachu- 
setts, the  second  son  of  the  hon.  Daniel  Oliver,  was 
graduated  1724,  and  was  distinguished  more  for  his 
solid  learning,  and  sobriety  of  conduct,  than  bril- 
liant parts.  He  was  highly  respectable  in  his  cha- 
racter for  his  piety,  integrity  and  knowledge  of  the 
afiairs  of  the  province,  until  the  latter  years  of  his 
civil  and  political  life,  when  he  was  held  up  to  pub- 
lic vi^w,  as  one  destitute  of  patriotick  virtuesj,  and 
inimical  to  the  true  interests  of  his  country.  The 
early  part  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  business,  for 
which  he  was  not  so  well  qualified  as  many,  who 
make  no  figure  upon  the  publick  theatre.  He  ra- 
ther diminished  than  increased  his  patrimony  by  any 
successful  speculations.  He  was  very  soor^-em- 
ployed  in  publick  stations  ;  was  representative 
for    Boston   at   the    general    court,    and    one    of 

The  present  generation  recollect  Dr.  Byles  more  as  a  man  given 
to  punning,  than  any  other  kind  of  wit.  His  works,  some  of 
which  are  valuable,  are  seldom  met  with. 


O  L  I  349 

his  majesty's  council.  Upon  the  death  of  the 
venerable  secretary  Willard,  lie  was  appointed 
secretary  of  the  province,  and  held  the  office  till 
1771  ;  then  he  succeeded  Mr.  Hutchinson  in  the 
place  of  lieut.  governour.  When  the  stamp  act 
passed  the  British  parliament,  he  was  made  distrib- 
uter, which  would  have  been  a  lucrative  office,  and 
which  he  reluctantly  resigned,  being  compelled  to 
do  it  by  the  loud  voice  of  the  multitude.  The  ri- 
ots this  act  occasioned  have  been  frequently  al- 
luded to.  Mr.  Oliver's  house  was  among  those 
which  were  injured,  for  which  the  general  court 
made  him  sufficient  compensation. 

His  political  principles,  and  propensity  to  ac- 
quire wealth  and  power,  stimulated  him  to  act  a  sim- 
ilar part  in  publick  life  with  Mr,  Hutchinson,  to 
whom  he  was  nearly  related.  It  was  supposed  that 
he  was  influenced  by  that  gentleman  ;  but  his  own 
views  led  to  the  same  object,  and  his  own  letters 
betrayed  the  spirit  by  which  he  had  been  actuated 
for  some  years.  In  the  same  petition,  therefore, 
which  the  general  court  presented  to  his  majesty 
for  the  removal  of  gov.  H.  they  begged  that  Mr. 
Oliver  might  also  be  removed  from  the  place  of 
lieut.  governour.  He  was  then  in  very  ill  health, 
and  soon  after  descended  to  the  grave  with  all  his 
imperfections  upon  his  head.  He  died,  March  3d, 
1774,  during  the  session  of  the  general  court,  who 
voted  to  attend  his  funeral,  but  all  left  the  proces- 
sion, on  account  of  some  improper  management, 
which  implied  a  want  of  respect  to  the  legislature  of 
the  province. 

Had  the  politicks  of  the  lieut.  governour  been 
different,  his  character  would  have  been  very  re- 
spectable. The  family  had  been  greatly  beloved, 
and  his  abilities  were  connected  widi  indefatigable 
industry.  He  was  a  friend  to  the  college,  and  to  the 
interests  of  religion.  He  wrote  well  upon  theolog- 
ical  and  political  subjects.  Some  of  them  were 
adapted  to  the  times,  and  are  scattered,  with  other 


350  O  L  I 

ephemeral  productions;  but  some  remain,  and  dis*- 
cover  a  cultivated  mind,  and  considerable  acquain- 
tance with  the  subject. 

Mr.  O.  left  a  number  of  sons,  to  whom  he  gave  a 
liberal  education.     The  eldest, 

Oliver  Andrew,  esq.  of  Salem,  was  graduat- 
ed at  Cambridge,  1749,  was  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  for  the  county  of  Essex  before  the 
revolution ;  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
American  academy  of  arts  and  sciences  ;  also  a 
member  of  the  philosophical  society  of  Philadel- 
phia. He  possessed  fine  talents,  and  was  reckoned 
among  our  best  scholars.  He  never  was  fond  of 
publick  life,  but  loved  his  friend  and  his  books,  and 
was  much  beloved  by  all  that  knew  him.  Several 
valuable  communications  of  his  are  in  the  first  vol- 
time  of  the  transactions  of  the  American  academy. 
He  was  also  the  author  of  a  work  much  celebrated 
entitled,  an  '•  essay  on  comets,"  printed  in  the  year 
1772.     He  died  in  1799,  aged  68. 

Oliver  Peter,  chief  justice  of  Massachusetts, 
the  younger  son  of  the  hon.  Daniel  Oliver,  was  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College,  1730.  He  lived  on  a 
family  estate  in  the  town  of  Middleborough,  and 
for  many  years  was  highly  respected  for  his  talents, 
bis  virtues,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  the 
commonwealth.  He  had  the  true  spirit  of  an  old 
colony  man.  Every  relick,  or  document,  which 
related  to  the  settlement  of  the  country,  or  was  cu- 
rious, had  a  value  stamped  upon  it.  He  collected 
many  papers  and  records,  and  even  transcribed  all 
William  Hubbard's  ms.  history  with  his  own  hand. 
All  these,  except  such  as  Hutchinson  made  use  off, 
were  carried  away  with  him  when  he  went  to  Eng- 
land. He  filled  several  offices  in  the  county  of 
Plymouth,  which  he  executed  with  ability  and 
faithfulness,  and  when  he  was  raised  to  the  supreme 
bench,  it  was  a  very  popular  appointment,  though 
he  had  not  that  knowledge  of  the  law,  which  others 
bad,  who  were  of  the  profession,  and  looked  up  to 


.  OLI  35t 

the  place.  He  expected  to  have  succeeded  Mr. 
Hutchinson,  as  chief  justice.  But  he  did  not  obtain 
the  station  at  that  time.  Judge  Lynde  was  appoint- 
ed, who  resigned  as  soon  as  an  alteration  was  made 
in  the  method  of  the  judges  receiving  their  salaries. 
Mr.  Oliver  was  then  made  chief  justice,  with  a  sal- 
ary of  400/.  sterling,  which  was  to  be  fixed,  and  paid 
without  any  dependence  upon  the  legislature  of  the 
province.  This  rendered  him  completely  odious. 
And  for  this  he  was  impeached  by  the  house  of 
representatives.  His  prejudices  were  strong  against 
the  country  during  the  war.  He  went  away  with 
the  other  loyalists,  when  the  British  troops  abandon- 
ed the  town,  and  lived  in  England  some  years  up- 
on his  salary,  or  the  pension  he  received  from  the 
crown.  A  diploma  of  L  L.  D.  from  the  university 
of  Oxford,  was  presented  to  him.  In  his  own  coun- 
try, he  was  not  distinguished  with  this  literary  hon- 
our. He  was,  however,  a  handsome  writer  in  poe- 
try and  prose.  Several  specimens  of  his  talents  are 
preserved.  He  wrote  many  political  pieces  in  the 
publick  papers,  especially  in  the  Censor,  a  paper 
which  the  tories  patronized,  and  which  was  devoted 
altogether  to  the  party.  Several  of  the  best  politi- 
cal speculations  in  that  paper  were  written  by  judge 
Oliver,  and  his  brother  the  lieut.  governour. 

Oliver  Thomas,  was  the  last  lieut.  governpur, 
under  the  crown.  He  was  of  a  different  family  from 
the  gentlemen  above  mentioned.  He  was  in  no 
publick  office  till  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  was 
changed,  ^nd  his  name  was  then  at  the  head  of  the 
mandamus  council,  with  a  commission,  as  lieut. 
governour  of  the  province.  It  was  a  matter  of  so 
much  surprise,  that  it  was  the  current  conversation, 
that  the  name  of  Thomas  Oliver  had  been  accident- 
ally inserted  for  Peter,  the  chief  justice.  But  it 
appeared  afterwards,  this  very  gentleman  was  ap- 
pointed, by  the  particular  advice  of  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son. With  what  views  time  perhaps  will  not  discover. 
On  other  occasions  he  had  preferred  his  own  reU^ 


352  O  S  B 

tions.  Politicians  always  have  some  design,  and. 
never  act  from  disinterested  motives.  Doubtless 
the  debt  of  gratitude  was  to  be  paid.  Mr.  Oliver 
would  have  rejoiced  t6  exchange  his  publick  hon- 
ours for  his  private  station.  He  was  a  man  of  let- 
ters and  possessed  much  good  nature  and  good 
breeding;  was  affable,  courteous,  a  complete  gentle- 
man in  his  manners,  and  the  delight  of  his  acquaint, 
ance.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1753, 
He  built  an  elegant  mansion  house  in  Cambridge, 
and  enjoyed  a  plentiful  fortune.  When  he  left 
America,  it  was  with  extreme  regret.  He  lived  in 
tlie  shades  of  retirement  while  he  was  in  Europe, 
and  very  lately  his  death  was  announced  in  the 
publick  papers* 

OsBORN  John,  physician,  was  born,  1713,  in 
Sandwich,  Barnstable  county,  and  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College,  1735. 

The  first  entrance  of  a  young  student  on  the 
world,  whose  future  prospects  depend  upon  his  pro- 
fession, and  that  profession  on  his  own  choice,  is 
frequently  marked  by  indecision  and  inactivity. 
This  was  the  case  with  Osborn.  After  leaving  col- 
lege, he  repaired  to  his  father's  house  at  Eastham, 
and  spent  some  time  in  a  state  of  irresolution.  To 
wdiile  away  this  awkward  interval,  and  to  gratify  the 
wishes  of  his  father,  he  paid  some  attention  to  divin- 
ity. At  an  association  of  the  neighbouring  clergy 
in  Chatham,  he  delivered  a  sermon  of  his  own  com- 
position. The  ingenuity  of  this  discourse,  though 
not  perfectly  orthodox,  commanded  the  approbation 
of  his  reverend  hearers. 

After  this  exhibition  we  hear  no  more  of  him  in 
the  desk  ;  but  being  duly  qualified,  he  afterwards 
became  a  physician,  and  removed  to  Middletown, 
Connecticut.  He  married  about  this  time  ;  and  in 
1753  wTote  to  a  sister,  then  living  at  Plymouth,  the 
following  account  of  himself  and  family. 

"  We  arc  all  in  usual  plight,  except  myself.  I 
am  confuied  chiefly  to  the  house  ;  am  weak,  lame, 


O  T  I  353 

and  uneasy  ;  and  never  expect  to  be  hearty  and 
strong  again.  I  have  lingered  along  almost  two 
years  a  life  not  worth  having,  and  how  much  long- 
er it  will  last,  I  cannot  tell.  We  have  six  children  ; 
the  eldest  fourteen  years  old  lust  November;  the 
youngest  two  years  last  January  ;  the  eldest  a  daugh- 
ter, the  next  a  son,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the 
chapter." 

The  illness  he  mentions  was  the  effect  of  a  fever 
from  which  he  never  recovered.  The  life,  which  he 
thought  not  ijoorth  havings  lasted  but  a  short  time 
after  he  wrote  the  above  mentioned  letter.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  40. 

He  certainly  possessed  a  fine  poetick  genius,  which 
appears  from  his  whaling  song,  which  has  been 
highly  celebrated,  and  which  no  whaleman  ever 
sings  or  speaks  of  but  with  rapture.  He  also  wrote 
a  very  beautiful  elegiack  epistle  addressed  to  one 
sister  on  the  death  of  another.* 

Otis  John,  one  of  the  council  for  Massachusetts, 
was  born  at  Hingham,  A.  D.  1657.  His  parents 
were  very  respectable  among  the  early  settlers  of 
that  town.  He  removed  to  the  town  of  Barnstable 
\^hen  he  was  a  young  man,  and  was  an  ornament  to 
that  part  of  the  country.  He  very  soon  trod  the 
path  to  honour,  and  was  employed  in  a  variety  of 
trusts,  which  he  discharged  with  fidelity  and  skill. 
For  20  years  he  was  representative  of  Barnstable  to 
the  general  court.  In  1706  he  was  chosen  one  of  his 
majesty's  council,  and  sat  at  that  honourable  board 
21  years,  till  death  gave  him  a  discharge  from  every 
labour,  and  laid  his  earthly  honours  in  the  dust. 

Above  18  years  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  militia 
in  the  county  of  Barnstable  ;  chief  judge  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas  13  years  ;  and  judge  of  the  pro- 
bate of  wills.  Such  was  his  sagacity  and  prudence, 
that  he  often  composed  differences  both  in  church 

*  These  poems  were  printed  in  the  Boston  Mirror,  January,  of 
the  present  year.    The  biographical  sketph,  written  by  a  literary 
friend,  appears  in  this  Dictionary  with  his  consent, 
X   X 


554  O  T  I 

and  state.  He  had  fine  talents  for  conversation.- 
His  pleasantness  and  riftability  made  him  agreeable  ; 
his  wit  and  humour  often  enlivened  the  company, 
which  was  improved  by  his  wisdom.  A  gentleman 
who  converses  with  people  of  various  classes  ought 
to  make  the  best  use  of  rustick  simplicity  ;  he  must 
bear  with  the  ignorance  of  some,  and  check  the 
pride  and  ill  manners  of  others  ;  for  such  as  speak 
their  minds  with  vulgar  freedom,  often  affect  to  be 
something  beyond  their  neighbours.  Col.  Otis  had 
this  requisite  knowledge  of  mankind,  and  preserved 
his  popularity  at  the  same  time  ''  he  was  known  in 
the  gates"  for  his  uprightness.  He  was  strict  and 
exemplary  in  attending  upon  religious  duties,  and 
was  as  remarkable  for  his  humility  and  modest 
worth  among  christians,  as  for  his  intellectual  pow- 
ers and  active  services  among  his  fellow  men.  He 
died,  Nov.  30th,  1727,  aged  70,  the  age  of  man, 
but  very  old,  if  he  lives  "  die  longest,  who  lives  the 
most  usefully." 

Otis  John,  son  of  the  gentleman  before  men- 
tioned, was  representative  for  the  town  of  Barnsta- 
ble a  number  of  years.  He  was  chosen  a  counsel- 
lor in  the  year  1747,  and  every  year  successively 
till  1756,  the  year  of  his  death. 

Otis  James,  was  also  an  honourable  man  in  his 
generation.  He  had  a  superiour  genius,  and  great 
accomplishments,  acquired  by  the  strength  and  ap- 
plication of  his  natural  powers.  Having  turned  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  law,  he  became  the  most 
eminent  pleader  in  the  county  of  Barnstable.  His 
reputation  was  so  high  in  his  profession,  that  he  was 
a  candidate  for  the  office  of  judge  in  the  superiour 
court.  When  judge  Sewall  died,  in  1770,  it  was 
supposed  one  of  the  judges  would  take  his  place  as 
chief  justice,  and  Mr.  Otia  be  advanced  to  the 
bench.  Mr.  Hutchinson,  however,  obtained  the 
place  of  chief  justice.  This  caused  great  surprise, 
frustrated  expectations,  and  provoked  resentment. 
It  kindled  party  spirit  and  spread  the  flames  over 


OTl  355 

'the  province.  Many  persons  became  inlnnical  to 
the  lieut.  governour,  who  perhaps  would  have  stood 
his  friends  in  those  troublesome  times  when  his  pa- 
triotism was  tired.  Mr.  O.  had  great  influence  in 
the  general  court,  and  had  lately  been  chosen  one 
his  majesty's  council ;  he  was  also  colonel  of  the  mi- 
litia, which  in  those  days  was  not  only  held  in  great 
honour,  but  gave  a  man  as  much  inftucnce  as  re- 
spect. There  was,  however,  something  like  a  coali- 
tion of  parties,  in  1763.  Col.  Gtis  was  appointed 
justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  and  judge  of 
probate  for  the  county  of  Barnstable.  The  contro- 
versy with  the  parent  country  soon  succeeded  the 
rpeace,  which  had  been  established  among  the  na- 
tions of  Europe.  In  1764,  the  British  parliament 
passed  an  act  for  raising  a  revenue  in  the  colonies. 
This  roused  the  spirit  of  New  England,  and  all  the 
brilliant  abilities  of  the  Otis  family  were  exerted  on 
the  side  of  opposition.  The  younger  Mr.  O.  was 
in  the  house  of  representatives.  He  blazed  in  the 
cause  of  liberty,  like  the  genius  of  the  times,  and 
powerfully  counteracted  the  schemes  of  the  ministry. 
In  1766,  gov.  Bernard  negatived  several  counsel- 
lors, because  the  lieut.  governour,  secretary,  and  at- 
torney general  were  not  chosen,  who  had  been  hon- 
oured with  a  seat  at  that  board  during  sundry  years. 
Mr.  Otis  was  one  of  live  leading  whig  characters, 
who  had  this  mark  of  royal  displeasure.  The  town 
of  Barnstable  again  chose  him  representative.  He 
was  elected  into  the  counsel  every  succeeding  year, 
and  was  negatived  while  Bernard  continued  in  the 
administration  of  government.  When  he  left  the 
province,  Mr.  Hutchinson  approbated  the  choice^ 
and  he  was  at  the  board  during  the  first  years  of  the 
revolutionary  w^ar.  He  died  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember, 1778,  having  lived  long  enough  to  see  his 
country  glorious  in  her  struggles  for  freedom,  with 
a  prospect  full  in  view,  that  her  mighty  efforts  to  se- 
cure independence,  w^ould  be  crowned  with  suc- 
■cess. 


356  O  T  I 

Otis  James,  of  Boston,  son  of  col.  Otis  of  Barn- 
stable, was  born  in  that  town,  and  received  every 
advantage  of  education  it  was  in  his  father's  power 
to  bestow.  The  old  gentleman  was  a  friend  to 
learning,'  and  learned  men,  and  often  lamented  his 
want  of  academical  improvement.  The  son  enter- 
ed  Harvard  College,  in  1739,  and  received  his  de- 
grees at  the  usual  time.  After  he  left  college,  his 
object  was  the  study  of  law  ;  but  previously  to 
entering  his  name  in  any  office,  he  spent  several 
years  in  furnishing  his  mind  with  various  kinds  of 
knowledge,  and  cultivating  a  classical  taste.  He 
then  studied  law  with  Mr.  Gridley,  and  soon  appear- 
ed with  distinguished  lustre  in  his  profession.  No 
one  at  the  bar  was  supposed  to  possess  more  exten- 
sive information.  He  first  began  the  practice  of  the 
law  at  Plymouth ;  but  he  soon  came  to  Boston, 
where  he  had  a  better  opportunity  to  display  his 
talents,  and  increase  his  business.  He  was  con- 
stantly employed  ;  and  obtained  such  celebrity,  that 
application  was  made  to  him  in  the  most  important 
causes  from  other  counties  in  Massachusetts,  from 
neighbouring  colonies,  and  even  from  Nova  Sco- 
tia.* There  are  persons  now  living,  who  can  recol- 
lect how  successfully  he  managed  certain  law  cases 
of  magnitude  and  importance.  He  was  appointed 
advocate  general  at  the  court  of  admiralty,  which 
place  he  resigned  in  the  year  1761,  and  openly  pro- 
tested against  the  officers  of  the  customs,  and  expos- 
ed the  treacherous  conduct  of  Charles  Paxton,  who 
from  this  time  became  his  personal  enemy,  though 
it  was  not  in  the  power  of  such  a  man  to  do  him 
great  injury. 

Mr.  Otis  was  nov*^  the  idol  of  the  people  of  Bos- 
ton. At  the  election  of  May,  1761,  he  was  sent  to 
the  general  court  as  one  of  tlieir  four  representa- 
tives. He  was  considered  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town,  as  the  best  orator  who  spake  in  Faneuil  halL 
and,  upon  one  occasion,  when  he  was  moderator, he 

•  Anthology,  5th  vol.  page  224, 


O  T  I  357 

addressed  them  in  a  long  speech,  which  was  after- 
wards published.  The  whigs  praised  it  higlUy,  but 
on  the  other  side  were  found  persons,  who  made  the 
most  sarcastick  remarks.  The  observation  of  a  great 
statesman,  whose  opinion,  and  knowledge  of  facts, 
claim  every  kind  of  respect,  was  just,  who  said  of 
Mr.  Otis,  that  **  he  was  a  senator,  whose  parts,  lit- 
erature, eloquence  and  integrity,  were  equal  to  any 
in  the  times  when  he  lived  ;  vet  no  man  was  ever 
more  abused  by  the  tory  writers,  who  ceased  not  to 
throw  their  vile  aspersions  on  his  character  as  well  as 
on  his  writings."*  They  viewed  him  as  the  leading 
character  among  the  whigs  in  the  general  court ;  for 
he  delivered  his  sentiments  with  the  same  manly 
freedom,  and  commanding  eloquence ^  in  the  house 
of  representatives  which  had  given  him  such  eclat 
in  other  assemblies.  His  hatred  to  Bernard  and 
Hutchinson,  combined  with  his  zeal  for  his  coun- 
try's cause,  gave  ardour  to  his  spirits,  aglow  to  his 
imagination,  and  energy  to  his  expressions.  His 
wit  was  often  keen  ;  his  sarcasms  always  severe. 

The  house  of  representatives  manifested  their 
high  respect  for  his  character  by  choosing  him  their 
speaker  in  the  year  1766  :  but  he  was  negatived  by 
the  authority  of  the  governour.  About  this  time 
his  fame  reached  the  old  country.  Several  of  his 
political  essays  on  the  *' rights  of  the  colonies;" 
and*' vindication  of  the  measures  of  die  general 
court,"  were  reprinted  in  England.  These  were 
circulated  among  the  members  of  the  opposition 
in  the  British  parliament.  With  some  of  their 
leading  men  he  corresponded.!  It  was  current- 
ly  reported   that   a    motion   was   made   in  parlia- 

*  Novanglus — the  Boston  Gazette,  Feb.  1775. 
t  Extracts  from  a  letter  of  James  Otis,  esq.  of  Boston,  to  a  no- 
ble lord,  dated  July  18,  1769.  "  lembrace  the  opportunity  with 
all  humility  and  gratitude  to  acknowledge  the  honour  1  have  re- 
ceived in  a  letter  from  your  lordship.  At  a  lime  when  so  heavy 
a  cloud  seems  to  be  impending  over  North  America,  it  givts  sm- 
gular  pleasure  to  find  a  nobleman  of  yo\ir  lordship's  rank,genius, 
and  learning,  so  clearly  avowing  the  cause  of  liberty  and  injured 


55$  O  T  1 

ment  *^  to  send  for  him,  and  try  him  for  high  trea- 
son." Such  a  motion  does  not  appear  in  their  de- 
bates. It  is  not  likely  it  ever  was  made.  Letters 
came  from  London,  which  suggested  that  such  a 
motion  was  either  made  or  to  be  made  ;  and  people 
on  this  side  the  water  have  generally  supposed,  that 
this  was  actually  proposed  by  lord  North.  It  is 
true,  however,  that  a  handsome  compliment  was 
paid  Mr.  Otis  by  Mr.  Edmund  Burke,  the  British 
Cicero,  in  one  of  their  debates  on  American  affairs. 
After  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  the  famous 
*'act  laying  a  duty  upon  tea,  painter's  oil  and  col- 
ours," &c.  passed  the  British  parliament.  It  was 
introduced  by  Charles  Townsend  who,  in  1766,  was 
appointed  chancellor  of  the  exchequer.  His  pur- 
pose w^as,  *'  to  raise  a  revenue  in  America  ;"  and, 
•'to  make  the  governours,  judges  and  attorney  gen- 
erals free  and  independent  of  the  humours  and  ca- 
prices of  the  people."  This  act,  with  its  direful 
consequences,  put  our  politicians  in  a  phrenz)'. 
The  agitation  of  the  publick  mind  was  increased  by 
the  arbitrary  and  ridiculous  conduct  of  the  com- 
missioners.     Beside  their  parade  of  high  life  and 

innocence.  Your  lordship's  sentiments  are  a  full  proof,  that  the 
love  otvirtue  and  truth  are  the  best  and  securest  basis  of  nobiUty. 

The  cause  of  America  is,  in  my  humble  opinion,  the  cause  of 
the  whole  British  empire.  An  ej^mpire  which,  from  my  earliest 
youth,  I  have  been  taught  to  love  and  revere,  as  founded  in  the 
principles  of  natural  reason  and  justice  ;  and  upon  the  whole  the 
best  calculated  for  general  happiness  of  any,  yet  risen  to  view,  in 
the  world.  In  this  view  of  the  British  empire,  my  lord,  I  inces- 
santly pray  for  its  prosperity,  and  sincerely  lament  all  adverse 
circumstances. 

The  hon.  Thomas  Gushing,  speaker  of  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives, Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  John  Hancock,  esq.  and  the  hon. 
Times  Otis,  of  Barnstable,  desire  to  present  their  respectful 
thanks  to  your  lordship,  for  putting  it  in  my  power  to  gratify 
those  you  have  distinguished,  as  of  the  same  principles  and  senti- 
ments of  civil  and  religious  hberty  with  yourself. 

Situated  as  we  are,  my  lord,  in  the  wilderness  of  America,  a 
thousand  leagues  distant  from,  the  fountains  of  honour  and  jus- 
tice, in  all  our  distresses  we  pride  ourselves  in  our  loyalty  to  th€ 
king,  and  our  affcclion  to  the  mother  country." 


O  T  I  35a 

their  contempt  for  the  good  and  wholesome  laws  of 
diis  province,  they  wrote  letters  against  the  coun- 
try ;  and  represented  some  worthy  characters  as 
guilty  of  political  crimes  which  existed  only  in  their 
pregnant  fancies.  Mr.  Otis  was  one  upon  whom 
their  malignity  vented  its  poison.  He  called  upon 
the  commissioners  individually,  and  as  a  board, for  an 
explanation  of  some  things  which  they  had  written 
against  him.  He  used  perhaps  unguarded  expres- 
sions in  the  heat  of  his  resentment,  upon  which  Mr. 
Robinson  one  oi  the  commissioners  threatened  to 
chastise  him.  They  met  at  the  coffee-house  in 
State  street,  in  the  month  of  Sept.  1770,  and  an  affray- 
took  place,  which  caused  serious  consequences. 
The  whole  account  may  be  seen  in  the  papers  of 
the  times.  The  friends  of  one  took  oath,  that  Mr. 
Otis  was  attacked  by  numbers.  On  the  other  side, 
men  s\yore  that  no  man  struck  him  but  Mr,  R.  It 
was  likewise  said,  that  '*  it  was  a  plan  to  kill  him, 
contrived  in  Mr.  Paxton's  room."  This  was  never 
brought  forward  at  the  trial :  there  it  appeared  that 
the  attack  of  Mr.  R.  was  base  and  cowardly  ;  but 
the  other  part  of  the  story  served  to  make  the  com- 
missioners more  odious. 

Mr.  Otis  prosecuted  Robinson,  and  recovered 
2000  pounds,  which  sum  he  generously  remitted 
upon  his  making  an  acknowledgment  of  his  offence. 

He  was  subject  to  fits  of  insanity  after  this,  and 
found  it  necessary  to  retire  from  publick  business. 
At  the  election  of  representatives  the  ensuing  sea- 
son the  town  of  Boston  sent  him  a  letter  of  thanks 
for  his  publick  services.  They  lamented  his  ill  state 
of  health,  and  earnestly  prayed  for  his  recovery. 
They  publickly  declared  that  his  services  were  such 
as  ought  to  be  remembered  with  gratitude,  and  dis- 
tinguish him  among  the  patriots  of  America.  Mr. 
Bowdoin,  one  of  the  counsellors,  who  had  been 
negatived  by  gov.  Bernard,  was  chosen  in  his  place. 
The  next  year  Mr.  Otis  recovered  his  health,  and 
was  again  chosen  representative.    Whenever  he  en- 


360  O  X  E 

gaged  in  business,  he  was  one  of  those,  who  gave 
his  whole  soul  to  the  object,  and,  like  other  great 
men,  lost  his  health  by  "  being  overplied  with  pub- 
lick  energies."  He  lived  a  number  of  years,  and 
frequently  rendered  himself  useful  to  the  communi- 
ty. When  his  health  would  not  permit  him  to  en- 
gage in  publick  concerns,  he  retired  into  the  coun- 
try. In  one  of  these  seasons  of  retirement,  May 
29,  1783,  as  he  ^vas  standing  at  the  door  of  Mr. 
Osgood's  house,  in  Andover,he  was  instantaneous- 
ly deprived  of  life  by  lightning.* 

OvEKiNG  John,  attorney  general,  came  into  this 
country  with  gov.  Burnet.  He  was  remarkable  for 
his  fluency  of  expression  and  agreeable  manner  of 
speaking  at  the  bar.  He  exercised  his  abilities  in 
the  law  with  great  success,  and  acquired  considera- 
ble fortune  and  influence.  He  held  the  ofiice  of  at- 
torney  general  from  the  time  of  his  appointment,  in 
1728,  to  the  administration  of  gov.  Shirley.  He 
died  about  the  year  1745,  and  was  succeeded  in  his 
ofiice  by  Mr.  Trowbridge. 

OxENBBincE  John,  one  of  the  ministers  of  the 
old  church,  in  Boston,  was  born  in  Daventry,  a 
town  in  Northamptonshire.     He  received  the  de- 


♦  The  following  lines  are  extracted  from  a  poem,  written  by  a 
gentleman  of  eminent  character  and  worth,  in  Boston  : 
"  Blest  with  a  native  strength  and  fire  of  thought, 
With  Greek  and  Roman  learning  richly  fraught, 
Up  to  the  fountain  head  he  push'd  his  view, 
And  from  first  principles  his  maxims  drew. 
Spite  of  the  times,  this  truth  he  blaz*d  abroad, 
The  people's  safety  is  the  law  of  God." 
His  works  are,  "  the  rudiments  of  latin  prosody,  with  a  disser- 
tation on  letters,  and  the  principles  of  harmony,  in  poetick  and 
prosaick  composition,  collected  from  some  of  the  best  writers,** 
pp.  72,  1760  ;    it  is  s;iid  to  be  a  most  clear  and  masterly  treatise 
by  the  reviewers  in  the  Monthly  Anthology  ;   "  A  vindication  of 
the  house  of  representatives  of  Massachusetts,"  1 762  ;  '» remarks 
on  the  Halifax  Ubel,"  1763;    "rights  of  the  British  colonies^** 
1764;    <' considerations  on  behalf  of  the  colonists,"  1765.     He 
wrote  many  political  speculations  in  the  Boston  Gazette,  which 
bad  a  high  reputation  among  the  writings  of  those  times. 


PAR  361 

gree  of  master  of  arts,  at  Cambridge,  A.  D.  1631, 
where  he  finished  his  education,  though  at  first  he 
was  sent  to  Oxford.  He  soon  became  a  preacher 
of  the  gospel,  and  made  several  voyages  to  the  West 
Indies.  In  the  year  1644,  he  was  ordained  pastor 
of  a  church  in  Beverly,  and  was  chosen  fellow  oif 
Eton  College.  He  is  in  the  list  of  ejected  minis- 
ters in  1662,  published  by  Dr.  Calamy,  who  tells 
us,  that  he  was  settled  at  Berwick  on  the  Tweed, 
where  he  was  silenced.  He  sailed  again  for  the 
West  Indies  ;  went  first  to  Surrinam,  and,  in  »667, 
he  was  at  Barbadoes.  In  1669  he  fixed  at  Boston, 
as  colleague  with  Mr.  Allen,  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Davenport-  His  name  was  John^  *'  a  man  sent 
from  God.*'  Dr.  Mather  thinks  it  remarkable  that 
he  should  succeed  four  of  this  name.  He  was  on6 
of  the  most  popular  preachers  in  Massachusetts.*" 
In  all  his  compositions  he  seems  to  breathe  an  evan- 
gelical spirit.  He  died,  Dec.  28.  1674  Towards 
the  close  of  a  sermon,  which  he  was  preaching  at  the 
Boston  lecture,  he  was  taken  with  an  apoplexy,  and 
continued  only  two  days 

His  works  are,  "  the  duty  of  watchfulness,"  in  a 
number  of  discourses  ;  the  election  sermon,  1671 ; 
a  sermon  entitled,  *'  seasonable  seeking  of  God." 
He  also  published  '*  a  proposition  for  propagating 
the  gospel  by  christian  colonies,  in  the  continent  of 
Guiana,  being  some  gleanmgs  of  a  large  discourse." 
That  large  discourse  was  preserved  some  years. 
We  know  not  where  it  can  be  obtained.  Dr.  Math- 
er says,  he  had  read  it,  and  found  a  grateful  variety 
af  entertainment. 

Parker  Thomas,  pastor  of  the  church  at  New- 
bury, was  the  son  of  Robert  Parker,  a  famous  con- 
troversial  writer  against  the  form  and  ceremonies  of 
the  church  of  England.  He  wrote  a  very  learned 
book,  '*  de  Poljtia  ecclesiastica."  The  son  became 
also  a  very  excellent  scholar.  He  was  educated  at 
Dublin,   under  the  care  of  the  famous  archbishop 

*  Chalmer*s  annals. 

Y    V 


^^f\o 


PAR 


Usher.  He  afterwards  studied  with  Dr.  Ames,  or 
received  advice  and  assistance  from  him,  while  he 
continued  his  studies  at  Leyden.  He  received  the 
degree  of  master  of  arts,  when  he  was  22  years  old, 
and  the  particular  esteem  of  several  divines,  cele- 
brated in  the  Belgick  universities.  In  the  diploma 
they  gave  him  they  testified,  "  Ilium  non  sine  ad- 
miratione  audiverimus  ;''  and,  "  se  philosophise  ar- 
tiumq  ;  liberalium  peritissimum  declaraverit.''  Af- 
ter leaving  Holland,  he  resided  at  Newbury, in  En- 
gland. He  came  into  New  England,  in  1634,  with 
many  of  his  people,  and  settled  in  a  spot  on  Merri- 
mack river,  which  was  called  Newbury,  according 
to  their  desire.  He  applied  himself  to  the  study  of 
the  prophecies,  and  wrote  several  volumes,  mostly 
in  Latin.  He  was  a  man  of  the  most  extensive  cha- 
rity and  liberal  principles.  He  thought  too  much 
satire  was  mingled  in  the  fluhers'  writings  against 
the  bishops  ;  and  because  he  expressed  this  in  a 
preface  to  a  book,  president  Chauncy  entered  into 
a  controversy  with  him,  calling  him  *'  Urijah  the 
priest,  who  would  set  up  the  altar  of  Damascus  to 
thrust  out  the  brazen  altar  of  the  Lord's  institution.'^ 
Mr.  Parker  died  in  the  month  of  April,  1677,  in  the 
82d  year  of  his  age.^ 

Parker  Samuel,  D.  D.  minister  of  Trinity 
church,  Boston,  and  bishop  of  the  protestant  epis- 
copal church  in  Massachusetts,  was  born  in  Ports- 

*  The  works  of  Mr.  Parker  upon  tlie  prophecies  were  never 
printed,  except  a  commentary  on  Daniel,  which  he  wrote  in  En- 
glish, and  which  is  not  accordii.'s;  to  the  common  opinion  orexpo- 
bitors.  Wiicn  he  was  a  younp:  man,  he  composed  theses  "  de 
iraductione  peccatoris  ad  vitam  "  which  have  been  bound  up  witli 
Dr.  Ames'b  smaller  works.  He  did  not  choose  to  appear  as  the 
author  at  the  lime. 

Mr.  Popkins,  his  successor  in  the  pastoral  office,  mentions 
some  facts  not  recorded  in  the  Mat;n;ilia.  He  insti  uctcd  a  school, 
and  took  no  pay.  'I'he  pupils  must  be  desit^ned  for  the  church 
or  he  would  not  adn/it  them  When  he  was  blind  he  could  leach 
Latin,  Greek  and  Hebrew.  He  could  talk  in  these  languai^es,  and 
tven  speak  his  mind  upon  occasions  in  arabick — See  appendix 
to  the  sermfiU  of  rev.  J.  S.  Popkins,  preached  at  quitting  the  old 
and  building  the  new  meeting  house,  Newbury,  1806. 


PAR  363 

inoutb,  New  Hampshire.  His  father,  jucl^^e  Parker, 
was  an  eminent  lawyer,  a  man  of  great  intes>;rity  and 
benevolence,  and  for  many  years  deacon  of  the  first 
church  in  that  town.  'I'he  son  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1764,  with  a  view  of  being  a  minister  of 
one  of  the  cons:reerational  churches.  He  soon  man- 
ifested  a  preference  for  the  church  of  England,  and, 
in  1773.  received  orders  from  Dr.  Ternch,  bishop  of 
London,  as  an  episcopal  clergyman.  He  was  chos- 
en assistant  minister  of  Trinity  church,  where  he 
officiated  above  30  years.  His  moderation  and 
prudence  were  manifested  upon  some  very  import- 
ant occasions.  Prejudices  against  episcopal  cler- 
gymen were  strong  during  the  revolutionary  war, 
because  their  political  principles  were  on  the  side 
of  government.  He  maintained  the  esteem  of  the 
people,  and  of  ministers  of  other  denominations, 
whose  opinions  were  entirely  different.  Among 
them  his  reputation  was  high  as  a  clergyman,  and  he 
was  looked  up  to,  as  the  head  of  the  episcopal  church 
in  New  England.  The  university  at  Philadelphia 
presented  him  with  a  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity. 
After  the  decease  of  bishop  Bass,  by  an  unanimous 
vote  of  their  convention,  he  was  elected  to  succeed 
him  in  his  office.  He  was  consecrated  but  a  few 
months  before  he  was  seized  with  the  disorder  of 
which,  after  a  second  return,  he  died. 

His  death  was  lamented  by  a  numerous  acquaint- 
ance. To  many  of  these  he  was  a  very  sincere 
friend  :  some  of  whom  received  his  advice,  odiers 
his  bounty.  He  was  an  active  and  useful  officer  of 
several  institutions  for  pious  and  humane  purposes, 
capable  of  transacting  a  variety  of  business,  and 
faithful  in  v^/hatever  he  engaged.  The  several  soci- 
eties attended  his  funeral,  Dec.  9,  18U4,  and  an 
elegant  discourse,  well  adapted  to  the  occasion, 
was  preached  by  his  colleague,  Mr.  Gardiner,  which 
was  afterwards  published. 

Partridge  Ralph  came  into  this  country 
among  the  early  planters,  and  was  settled  at  Dux- 


364  PAR 

bury.  He  was  one  of  the  synod,  who  met  at  Cam- 
bridge, 1647,  to  compose  the  platform  of  church  dis- 
cipline. Three  gentlemen  were  appointed  to  draw  a 
model  of  church  government,  according  to  the  word 
of  God.  Each  made  a  separate  draft,  and  the  synod 
collected  from  the  whole,  as  they  judged  proper  to 
complete  their  system  of  ecclesiastical  government. 
The  other  gentlemen  were  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr. 
Mather,  whose  names  rank  with  the  great  men  of 
New  England.  When  most  of  the  ministers  in  the 
colony  of  Plymouth  left  their  parishes,  on  account 
of  the  *' paucity  and  poverty  of  their  congregations," 
he  remained  with  his  people.  They  highly  respect- 
ed him,  and  he  died  in  a  good  old  age  about  the 
year  1658.  For  more  than  40  years  he  was  a  preach- 
er of  the  gospel,  and  was  not  interrupted  by  any 
bpdily  sickness. 

Parsons  Moses,  pastor  of  the  church  at  By  field, 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1736  ;  ordained 
June  20,  1744  ;  and  died,  Dec.  14,  1784,  in  the  68th 
year  of  his  age.  He  was  an  excellent  and  judicious 
practical  theologian  ;  conversant  in  the  most  sub- 
stantial parts  of  divinity,  and  could  speak  handsome- 
ly upon  these  subjects,  as  occasion  required.  His 
sermons  were  calculated  to  improve  the  mind,  and 
affect  the  heart.  His  grand  object  was  to  establish 
essential  points  in  religion,  and  the  rest  he  left  to 
the  disputers  of  this  world.  He  attended  very  par- 
ticularly to  the  circumstances  of  his  flock,  was  very 
amiable  in  his  domestick  character,  and  much  be- 
loved by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry. 

An  oration  was  pronounced  at  his  funeral  by  the 
rev,  Levi  Frisbie,  which  is  a  handsome  composition. 
The  next  Lord's  day,  Mr.  Tappan  of  Newbury,  af- 
terwards professor  of  divinity  at  the  university  at 
Cambridge,  preached  a  funeral  sermon,  which  is 
one  of  the  best  discourses  that  worthy  man  ever 
printed. 

Mr.  Parsons  preached  the  election  sermon,  1772  ; 
it  was  well  received  and  excited  more  than  common 


FAY  365 

attention  by  the  free  manner  in  which  he  spake  of 
the  British  nation.  He  was  a  whig  from  principle. 
He  loved  his  country,  but  his  zeal  for  its  welfare 
and  honour  was  tempered  with  great  charity  and 
moderation  towards  those  whose  politicks  were  dif- 
ferent. 

He  left  a  number  of  children  ;  to  several  of  his 
sons  he  gave  a  university  education,  one  of  whom 
is  now  chief  justice  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts  ; 
another,  who  was  graduated  in  1773,  was  first  a 
student  in  divinity,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to 
physick. 

"  Mihi,  post— nullos  soclales." 

The  powers  of  his  mind  were  great,  his  application 
to  his  studies  very  uncommon,  and  his  conduct  ex- 
emplary, but  his  death  was  immature,  just  as  he 
had  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He 
sailed  from  Newbury  port,  as  surgeon  of  a  vessel, 
during  the  revolutionary  war,  which  foundered  at 
sea. 

"  Huic  neque  defiingi  visumest,  nee  vivere  pukhrum  ? 
Cura  fuit  recte  vivere,  sicque  mori." 

Payson  Phillips,  son  of  the  rev.  Phillips  Pay- 
son  of  Walpole,  Massachusetts,  was  educated  at 
Harvard  College,  and  in  the  year  1754,  received  the 
honours  of  that  university. 

He  was  ordained  the  minister  of  Chelsea,  Oct. 
26,  1757,  and  continued  to  preach  and  perform  all 
the  duties  of  the  ministry  till  a  few  weeks  before  his 
death. 

In  the  line  of  his  profession  he  had  a  distinguish- 
ed reputation.  His  imagination  was  lively  and  vig- 
orous. His  memory  retentive.  His  discourses 
were  well  composed  and  evangelical.  Like  a  wise 
master  builder  he  looked  at  the  foundation,  while 
reasoning  upon  the  moral  duties,  or  describing,  with 
a  glowing  pencil,  the  triumphs  of  the  christian's 
hope. 

The  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity  was  presented 
him  by  the  seminary  where  he  received  his  educa- 


366  PEL 

tion,  a  real  testimony  of  his  \visclom  and  worth, 
which  gave  pleasure  to  the  friends  of  religion  and 
learning. 

He  had  much  classical  erudition,  and  a  fondness 
for  the  stud}'  of  natural  philosophy  and  mathematics. 

When  the  American  academy  of  arts  was  institut- 
ed, he  was  one  of  the  first  members.  He  always 
shewed  a  zeal  to  promote  the  cause  of  science  and 
every  useful  institution. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  society  for  propagating 
the  gospel  among  the  Indians  and  others  in  North 
America  ;  and  also  one  of  the  Scotch  commission- 
ers for  the  like  benevolent  purpose,  being  named  in 
the  commission,  when  the  board  in  Scotland  estab- 
lished a  corresponding  board  in  this  country. 

Dr.  Payson  was  frank  and  open  in  hi^  disposition, 
and  had  a  ready  utterance  in  conversation.  With 
uncommon  energy  of  expression  he  pourtrayed  vice 
and  meanness,  tore  the  garb  of  the  hypocrite,  and 
exposed  fanaticism  in  every  shape. 

in  his  domestic  and  social  relations  he  appeared 
with  dignity  and  tenderness.  As  a  companion  was 
agreeable,  and  as  a  neighbour  obliging  ;  warm  in 
his  friendship,  hospitable  in  his  house.  He  was  a 
condescending  and  instructive  parent ;  the  kind,  at- 
tentive, and  affectionate  husband. 

He  was  ready  to  every  good  work  for  the  benefit 
of  his  people,  mixing  with  them  and  interesting 
himself  in  their  concerns  :  he  encouraged  the  spirit 
ot  industry  in  the  town,  and,  upon  proper  occasions, 
administered  the  consolations  of  religion.  Their 
attachment  increased  with  his  years.  But  while 
they  were  induh^ing  hopes  of  returning  health,  and 
days  of  further  usefulness,  they  beheld  him,  with 
grief  and  sorrow,  among  the  trophies  of  the  grave. 
He  died  Jan.  1 1,  1801,  aged  65. 

Pelham  Herbert,  was  one  of  the  assistants  in 
Massachusetts,  and  highly  valued  by  the  people. 
He  was  of  the  same  family  with  the  duke  of  New- 
castle. He  tarried  but  a  few  years  in  New  England. 


P  E  M  367 

In  1646,  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
united  colonies.  In  1650  he  lived  upon  his  estate 
in  England.  He  was  intrusted  by  the  colony  of 
Massachusetts  with  some  of  their  most  important 
aftairs,  and  was  a  great  promoter  of  the  society  for 
propagating  the  gospel  among  the  Indians.  Among 
the  sixteen  of  whom  the  corporation  first  consisted, 
Herbert  Pelham  stands  the  second  on  the  list. 
Hutchinson.     Records  United  Colonies. 

P  E  M  B  E  R  T  o  N  E  B  E  N  E  z  E  R ,  pastor  of  the  old  south 
church,  was  born  in  Boston,  A.  D.  1672,  and  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College,  1691.  After  some  years 
residence  at  Cambridge,  he  was  chosen  fellow  of 
the  house,  and, on  the  23th  of  August,  1700,  ordain- 
ed assistant  to  the  venerable  Samuel  Willard.  He 
was  greatly  valued  and  beloved  while  he  lived,  and 
had  the  reputation  of  as  an  accomplished  a  preach- 
er as  this  country  ever  produced.  He  died  Feb. 
13,  1717,  in  the  meridian  of  his  gifts,  usefulness, 
and  age. 

Dr.  Colman,  in  a  sermon  preached  after  his  death, 
says,  *' that  he  was  a  hard  student  from  his  childhood, 
and  being  blessed  with  brightness  of  mind,  fervour 
of  spirit, and  strength  of  memory,  he  made  wonderful 
dispatch.  The  college  never  had  a  more  accom- 
plished tutor,  nor  one  that  more  applied  himself  to 
teach  and  watch  over  the  morals  of  it.  His  con- 
spicuous learning  and  piety  soon  fixed  the  eyes  of 
Mr.  Willard  upon  him  to  be  the  colleague  of  his 
age,  and  successor  at  his  death.  He  was  master  of 
logick  and  oratory  in  great  perfection.  His  delive- 
ry was  lively  and  vigorous,  being  strongly  convin- 
ced of  the  reality  of  things  invisible  and  eternal. 
His  w^arm  and  passionate  temper  (which  was  some- 
times his  great  infirmity)  seemed  here  to  set  the 
greater  edge,  and  give  a  further  energy  to  his  ad- 
mirable discourses.'' 

He  says,  likewise,  *'  that  he  had  a  superiour  soul, 
formed  for  great  things,  and  was  ever  framing  them, 
but  that  it  was  lodged  in  a  distempered  body." 


368  P  E  M 

Mr.  Barnard  thus  describes  Mr  Pemberton  :  **  a 
man  of  strong  i::enius,  extensive  learning,  a  posses- 
sor of  raised  thoughts,  and  a  masculine  style,  of 
flaming  zeal  in  the  cause  of  God  and  religion,  vio- 
lent in  his  passions,  and  as  soft  as  you  would  wish 
for  out  of  them,  a  good  christian,  and  a  faithful  pas- 
tor."* 

A  volume  of  sermons  was  printed  after  Mr.  Pem- 
berton's  decease.  They  contain  those  he  publish- 
ed ;  and  several  which  were  added  because  they 
were  much  celebrated.  There  is  among  them  a 
most  masterly  defence  of  the  "  validity  of  Presby- 
terian ordination."  These  discourses  are  written 
in  the  best  style,  and  would  do  honour  to  any  preach- 
er of  the  present  age.  They  are  wonderful  com- 
positions  for  the  period.  When  he  prepared  a  ser- 
mon  for  the  press,  he  w^as  slow  in  correcting  it ; 
every  sentence  he  framed  with  deliberation  and  care. 
Hence  he  published  very  little.  '*  He  carried  the 
mighty  stores  and  treasures  of  his  laborious  studies 
in  his  own  vast  mind,  and  for  the  most  part  wrote 
only  hints  for  himself  to  be  enlarged  upon  in  the 
pulpit."  This  may  appear  the  language  of  an  eu- 
logist ;  but  if  there  be  any  truth  in  tradition,  it  agrees 
with  the  opinion  which  was  universally  received  of 
this  eminent  character. 

Pemberton  Ebenezer,  D.  D.  son  of  the  rev. 
gentleman  pastor  of  the  Old  South  church,  was  de- 
prived  of  his  father's  care  and  instruction  at  a  ten- 
der age,  butwas  blessed  with  a  surviving  parent,  a 
w^oman  of  a  most  excellent  spirit,  and  adorned  with 
ail  the  virtues  of  a  christian.  Her  son  has  done 
due  honour  to  her  memory  in  the  account  he  has 
published  of  her  life  and  character. 

His  friends  intended  him  for  a  secular  employment; 
but  his  inclination  to  a  studious  life  prevailed,  and 
he  was  educated  at  our  publi<:k  university, at  Cam- 
bridge, where  he  distinguished  himself  as  a  scholar, 

*  Historical  collections,  vol.  x. 


P  E  M  369 

and  made  those  improvements  in  usefolknowledge, 
which  qualified  him  for  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

Soon  after  he  entered  on  publick  preachini^,  he 
was  appointed  chaplain  at  castle  William,  by  Mr. 
Dummer,  the  commai^er  in  chief  of  the  province. 
In  this  pleasant  and  retired  situation,  he  had  a  hap- 
py opportunity  of  cultivating  and  improving  his 
own  mind,  and  at  the  same  time  do  good  to  others. 

There  was  one  circumstance, which  rendered  the; 
situation  peculiarly  desirable.  The  castle  was  the. 
usual  residence  of  the  lieut.  governour,  in  whom 
were  united  the  gentleman  and  christian,  and  un- 
der whose  wise  and  just  administration  the  province, 
for  some  years,  enjoyed  great  quiet  and  prosperity. 
This  honourable  person  condescended  to  admit  Mr. 
Pemberton  to  an  acquaintance,  that  was  both  agree- 
able and  useful,  and  which  continued  with  mutual 
esteem  till  Mr.  Dummer  was  admitted  to  the  world 
of  spirits. 

His  services  in  the  fortress  were  only  preparatory 
to  a  larger  scene  of  action.  He  was  soon  invited  to 
take  the  charge  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  and  was  publickly  set  apart  to 
that  important  trust  by  the  ministers  of  this  town. 
The  late  Dr.  Colman  preached  the  ordination  ser- 
mon. In  this  conspicuous  orb  he  moved  for  twen- 
ty two  years.  At  length  a  spirit  of  discord  broke 
loose  in  the  society.  Though  the  pastors  had  no  part 
in  the  dispute,  yet  the  contention  ran  so  high,  that 
Mr.  Pemberton,  and  his  worthy  colleague,  the  rev. 
Mr.  Gumming,  thought  themselves  obliged  to  apply 
to  the  presbytery  for  a  dismission.  Just  at  this  time, 
the  church  in  Middle  street,  Boston,  was  deprived 
of  their  pastors,  Mr.  Welsteed  and  Mr.  Gray,  two 
excellent  men,  *'  pleasant  in  their  lives,  in  their 
deaths  not  divided."  This  christian  society  unan- 
imously chose  Mr.  P.  to  be  their  pastor,  and  he 
was  introduced  to  the  pastoral  charge,  1753. 

While  at  New  York,  he  had  been  prseses  of  the 
board  of  correspondents,  commissioned  by  the  soci- 

z  z 


370  P  E  M 

ety  in  Scotland,  for  propagating  christian  knowledge 
among  the  Indians  in  New  England  and  parts  ad- 
jacent. 

While  he  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  Boston,  the 
honourable  and  reverend  trustees  of  the  college  ii> 
New  Jersey,  to  which  board  he  formerly  belonged* 
presented  him  with  a  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity. 
It  was  the  first  occasion  of  their  exercising  this  priv= 
iiegre. 

His  piety  was  of  that  fervent  kind  for  which  his 
father  was  remarkable.  He  had  not  his  superiour 
powers  of  mind,  and  in  his  old  age  grew  unpopular 
in  his  delivery,  though  in  former  times  he  drew 
crowded  assemblies  by  his  manner.  His  reading, 
however,  was  extensive,  and  his  sermons  correct  in 
diction  and  style.  He  was  a  calvinist,  according  to 
the  principles  of  our  fathers,  and  zealous  against  ar- 
minianisra,  so  as  to  provoke  the  satire  of  writers, 
"  who  worshipped  the  God  of  their  fathers  after  the 
way,  which  is  called  heresy  ;"  but  in  the  latter  years 
of  his  life,  those  who  were  conversant  with  him  ob- 
served a  candour  and  charity  to  such  as  entertained 
different  sentiments  on  some  points  of  doctrine  up- 
on which  great  stress  has  been  laid.  He  vehement- 
ly aspired  after  the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  and  had  the 
consolations  of  it  during  a  long  and  trying  sickness. 
Instead  of  suffering  from  the  fear  of  death,  he  seem^ 
ed  to  possess  the  peace,  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing. 

Dr.  P.  died,  Sept.  15,  1777,  aged  73,  and  in  the 
51st  year  of  his  ministry.  He  published,  a  few 
years  before  his  death,  a  volume  of  sermons  upon 
*'  salvation  by  grace."  While  he  was  minister  of 
New  York  he  printed  several  occasional  sermons  ; 
and  a  small  volume  on  "  the  wonderful  propagation 
of  the  gospel,  and  the  coming  of  Christ."  He 
preached  the  election  sermon  in  1756  ;  the  Dudleian 
lecture  in  1766.  He  also  printed  a  sermon,  preach- 
ed at  the  Thursday  lecture,  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Whitefield,  in  1770.  Character  oJDr.  Pemberton, 
7ns,  by  a  friend. 


P  E  ip  svi 

Peppebell  sir  \ViLLiAM,was  a  merchant,  dis- 
tinguished for  his  opulence,  integrity  and  polite- 
ness. He  was  early  in  life  chosen  a  representative 
to  the  general  court,  and  sat  at  the  council  board  32 
years.  He  had  a  martial  turn  of  mind,  which  was 
increased  by  living  in  a  part  of  the  country  t\\^  most 
exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  French  and  Indians. 
From  being  a  subaltern  officer  in  the  militia,  he 
rose  to  the  highest  military  rank,  and  was  equally 
qualified  to  command  a  large  army,  and  to  adorn  his 
civil  station  by  his  virtue  and  wisdom.  When  the 
plan  was  formed  to  attack  Louisburg,  it  gave  ani- 
mation to  the  troops,  and  to  the  people  in  general, 
that  such  a  man  was  to  lead  them.  Nothing  but  a 
zeal  for  his  country's  good  could  have  carried  him 
from  the  scenes  of  domestick  enjoyment,  and  from 
the  head  of  his  majesty's  council,  the  highest  hon- 
our his  native  country  could  bestow  upon  him,  to 
the  fatigues  of  a  camp,  and  uncertain  victory.  In- 
deed, many  of  our  most  judicious  people  thought 
the  expedition  romantick,  and  had  it  not  been  suc- 
cessful, no  braven  or  prudent  conduct  of  the  com- 
mander would  have  saved  his  reputation  ;  nor  would 
the  loss  to  the  publick  have  been  ever  brought  into 
any  calculation.  It  ended  much  to  the  honour  of  New 
England,  and  was  certainly  the  most  glorious  event 
of  the  war.  *'•  The  illustrious  undertaking  being  so 
well  accomplished,  it  caused  the  name  of  sir  Wil- 
liam Pepperell  to  spread  far  and  wide,  and  to  be  re- 
membered with  gratitude  and  respect  by  succeed- 
ing generations."  The  king  bestowed  upon  him 
the  title  and  dignity  of  a  baronet  of  Great  Britain, 
•an  honour  never  before  conferred  on  a  native  of 
these  North  American  provinces.  He  had  also  a 
commission  of  colonel  of  a  reariment  which  was  then 
to  be  raised  for  the  preservation  of  Cape  Breton. 
Many  would  have  appeared  vain,  and  been  bloated 
with  an  idea  of  their  own  consequence  with  a  small 
part  of  the  honours  conferred  upon  this  gentleman. 
He  received  the  thanks  of  the  ministry,  congratuh. 


372  p  E  r 

tory  addresses  were  made  to  him,  peculiar  tokens 
of  respect  and  affection  were  shown  him  by  several 
branches  of  the  Royal  family  ;  but  his  manners  did 
not  change  by  his  exaltation  to  honour.  His  affa- 
bility gained  him  friends  among  all  classes  of  peo- 
ple,and  he  conciliated,  still  more  the  affections  of  his 
former  acquaintance.  He  had  a  deep  sense  of  the 
providence  of  the  Supreme  Being,  which  seemed 
to  influence  every  action  of  his  life,  and  made  him 
modest  and  humble.  He  made  an  open  profession 
of  religion,  and  exhibited  the  christian  virtues  to 
the  credit  of  his  religious  sentiments  ;  he  died  at 
his  seat  in  Kittery,  July  6,  1759,  aged  63  ;  and 
exhibited  the  Christian  hero  on  his  death  bed, 
meeting  the  conflicts  of  the  last  enemy  with  forti- 
tude and  putting  entire  confidence  in  the  Captain  of 
his  salvation.^ 

Peters  Hugh,  minister  of  the  church  of  Salem, 
was  born,  1599,  in  Foy,  Cornwall.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  university  of  Cambridge,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  master's  degree,  1622.  He  was  licens- 
ed to  preach  by  Dr,  Mountain,  bishop  of  London, 
and  preached  with  such  success,  that  he  converted 
multitudes  every  week-  According  to  his  own  ac- 
count an  auditory  of  7000  assembled  at  one  time  at 
Sepulchre  church  A  general  remark  may  be  m.ade 
upon  preachers  at  certain  times.  They  will  draw 
the  muhitude,  if  they  have  a  great  deal  of  zeal,  and 
a  strong  voice.  It  often  happens,  that  they  have 
zeal  without  knowledge,  and  faith  without  charity. 
Such  a  preacher  was  Hugh  Peters ;  but  active  and 
enterprising,  one  who  would  push  himself  forward, 
as  the  head  of  a  party,  and  overconie  every  difficul- 
ty by  his  bold  adventurous  spirit.    He  left  England 

*  Notices  of  the  life  of  sir  William  Pepperell  may  be  found  in 
a  most  excellent  discourse  which  his  minister  and  friend  Dr. 
Stevens  published  after  his  death.  Also  in  the  first  volume  of 
the  Collections  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  The 
actions  of  this  illustrious  American  officer  are  related  likewise  by 
the  English  writers  in  the  histories  of  the  French  war  which 
ended  with  the  peace  of  Aix  h  Chapel le. 


PET 


io 


because  he  had  scruples  about  conforming  to  the 
ceremonies  of  the  episcopal  church  ;  or,  because  the 
ruling  power   '*  persecuted  the  saints.''     He  went 
first  to  Holland,  and  he  was  pastor  of  a  church  in 
Rotterdam.      The  celebrated  Dr.   Ames  was  his 
colleague,  and  died  in  his   arms.      He  arrived  in 
New  England,  A.  D.  1635.      Sir  Ferdinando  Gor- 
ges says,   "  this  year  came  that  famous  servant  of 
Christ,  Hugh  Peters,  whose  courage  was   not  infe- 
rior to  any."     He  was  invited  to  the  pastoral  office 
at  Salem,  Dec.  21,  1636,  and  was  very  respectable 
among  the  fathers   of  the   country,    for   his  piety, 
as  well  as  the  lively  interest  he  took  in  the  concerns 
of  the   plantation.       During  five  years  that  he  was 
minister  the  town  flourished  ;  and  he  was  the  instru- 
ment of  its  prosperity.      He  stimulated  his  people 
to  engage  in  commerce.      "  He  formed  the  plan  of 
the  fishery,  of  the  coasting  voyages,  of  the  foreign 
voyages  ;    and  among  many  other  vessels,  one  of 
300  tons  was  undertaken  by  his  influence.    He  pro- 
vided the  carpenters,  and  entered  largely  into  trade, 
with  great  success."     He  received  from  his  church 
200  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  called  Northfield, 
and  several  other  spots  of  ground,  which  were  con- 
sidered as  a  reward  for  his  services.     His  farm  still 
bears  the  name  of  Peter's  neck. 

As  a  politician  he  took  very  decided  ground.. 
The  country  was  then  divided  between  Winthrop 
and  Vane.  Each  had  his  party.  The  ostensible 
cause  was  a  religious  controversy  about  the  cove- 
nant of  grace  and  a  covenant  of  works,  but  it  had  a 
great  influence  upon  the  politicks  of  the  clay.  Vane 
was  a  rigid  Antimonian.  The  old  church  of  which^ 
Wheelwright  and  Cotton  were  ministers  were  zeal- 
on  the  same  side.  The  pastor,  Mr.  Wilson,  and 
gov.  Winthrop,  and  the  elders  of  other  towns, 
were  for  those  principles,  which  agreed  with  most 
churches  of  the  reformation.  Hugh  Peters  was 
strenuous  to  support  them.  He  exerted  every 
nerve  to  help  the  interest  of  gov.  ^Vinthrop,  who 


Oi 


4  PET 


was  again  chosen  governour  in  16S7  ;  and  ''  paid 
a  just  tribute  to  Mr.  Peter's  activity  and  publick 
spirit." 

In  1641,  Mr.  Peters  was  sent  to  England,  as 
agent  for  Massachusetts.  It  was  supposed  a  man, 
so  active  in  commercial  pursuits,  could  represent 
the  colony  upon  the  laws  of  excise  and  trade.  The 
persons  designed  to  this  business,  according  to 
Winthrop,  *' were,  Mr.  Peters  of  Salem,  Mr.  Weld 
of  Roxbury,  and  Mr.  Hibbins  of  Boston.  When 
it  was  proposed  to  the  church  of  Salem,  Mr.  Endi- 
cot  opposed  it.  Some  reasons  were  offered,  as  that 
officers  should  not  be  taken  from  their  churches  for 
civil  occasions,  that  the  voyage  would  be  long  and 
dangerous,  &c."  But  in  the  true  style  of  New  Eng- 
land, something  was  added  about  the  reformation  of 
the  churches,  which  made  the  business  of  the  agency 
more  palatable  to  those  who  were  against  sending 
clergymen  to  negociate  regulations  of  trade.  Mn 
Peters  and  Mr.  Weld  would,  however,  have  been 
more  serviceable  to  the  souls  of  men  in  their  own 
country,  than  they  were  in  managing  their  tempo- 
ral interests  in  Great  Britain.  There  Mr .  Peters 
was  duped  by  the  creatures  of  Oliver  Cromwell  to 
serve  the  views  of  his  policy.  He  was  exactly 
suited  to  act  the  extravagant  part  he  did,  because 
he  could  be  wrought  up  to  a  political  or  religious 
phrenzy  adapted  to  the  circumstances  of  the  times, 
or  the  madness  of  the  nation.  He  would  either 
fight  or  pray,  as  his  services  were  thought  necessary. 
He,  who  had  his  flock  in  the  American  wilderness, 
was  slaying  and  killing  his  fellow  creatures  amidst  the 
armies  of  Europe.  For  it  is  certain  he  led  a  brig- 
ade into  Ireland,  and  came  off  victorious.  He  was 
also  very  famous  as  a  political  preacher.  His  dis- 
f':ourses  before  the  king  were  abominable  for  the  se- 
verity of  their  sarcasms,  and  evil  tendency  of  the 
sentiments  delivered.  Doubtless  things  were  ex- 
aggerated by  the  other  party  ;  but  his  own  express- 
ions were  not  only  vulgar,  calculated  not  only  t6 


PET  375 

give  pain  to  fallen  majesty,  but  to  increase  the  pre- 
judices of  those,  whose  anger  was  fierce,  and  their 
wrath  cruel.  If  falsehoods  were  spread  to  make  Mr, 
Peters'  character  odious  or  ridiculous,  what  gave 
rise  to  these  stories,  but  certain  eccentricities  or 
extravagancies  of  which  no  other  man  was  guilty  ? 

His  friends  bring  testimonies  of  his  kind  atten- 
tion to  Charles.  He  says  himself,  *'  I  had  access 
to  the  king.  He  used  me  civilly.  I,  in  requital,  offer- 
ed my  poor  thoughts  three  times  for  his  safety.  I 
never  had  a  hand  in  contriving  or  acting  his  death, 
as  I  am  scandalised,  but  the  contrary  to  my  main 
power." 

It  is  easy  to  reconcile  the  different  accounts  giv- 
en, by  supposing  every  thing  true,  which  is  related, 
concerning  the  preaching  and  coarse  declamation 
of  Hugh  Peters  before  the  king's  condemnation. 
And  yet  he  might  be  moved  with  compassion  vvhea 
he  saw  him  struggling  with  adversity,  and  returning 
civilities  for  the  rude  treatment,  which  had  been 
given.  Is  it  not  natural  for  tenderness  of  spirit  to 
succeed  the  ebullition  of  violent  passions  ?  We 
learn  nothing  very  exceptionable  in  Peters'  conduct 
after  this.  Cromwell  appointed  him  one  of  the 
^'  triers  for  the  ministry,"  and  a  "  commissioner  for 
amending  the  laws,"  but  he  speaks  humbly  of  his 
qualifications.  *'  When  I  was  a  trier  of  others,  I 
went  to  hear,  and  gain  experience,  rather  than  to 
judge,  when  I  was  called  about  weighing  laws,  I 
rather  was  there  to  pray,  then  to  amend  laws.  But 
in  these  things  I  confess  I  might  as  well  have  been 
spared." 

He  was,  however,  the  only  one,  of  all  the  Inde- 
pendent  ministers,  condemned  to  the  scaffold. 
Others  were  equally  guilty,  and  doubtless  as  ob- 
noxious to  Charles.  It  is  probable,  he  had  offend- 
ed some  by  his  rudeness  and  ill  manners,  uho  ex- 
erted the  influence  they  had,  after  the  restori.iion, 
to  wreak  their  vengeance  upon  him.  And  his  own 
friends  were  all  out  of  the  wav. 


376  PET 

The  raanner  of  his  death  was  shocking.  Such 
fortitude  as  he  discovered  would  have  made  anoth- 
er man  called  a  hero.  Ludlow  relates,  that  chief 
justice  Cooke  and  Mr.  Peters  were  ordered  to  be 
executed  the  same  day.  They  were  carried  to  the 
place  of  execution  on  two  sleds,  the  head  of  major 
general  Harrison  being  placed  on  that  which  carried 
the  chief  justice  and  directed  towards  him,  which, 
instead  of  producing  the  designed  effect,  tended  on- 
ly to  animate  him.  Before  he  died,  he  received 
other  marks  of  insult.  To  which  he  replied,  ''  that 
it  had  not  been  the  custom  in  the  most  barbarous 
iiations  much  less  in  England  to  insult  over  a  dying 
man."  When  he  was  cut  down,  and  ordered  to 
be  quartered,  a  col.  Turner  called  to  the  sheriff's 
men  to  bring  Peters'  to  see  what  was  doing  ;  which, 
being  done,  the  executioner  came  to  him.  and  rub- 
bing his  bloody  hands  together,  asked  him.  How  he 
liked  this  work  ?  He  told  him  he  was  not  at  all  ter- 
rified, and  that  he  might  do  his  worst.  And  when 
he  was  upon  the  ladder,  he  said,  *'  Sir,  you  have 
butchered  one  of  the  servants  of  God  before  my 
eyes,  and  have  forced  me  to  see  it,  in  order  to  ter- 
rify and  discourage  me,  but  God  has  permitted  it 
for  my  support  and  encouragement." 

To  make  Mr.  Peters  more  odious,  a  story  was 
propagated  of  his  being  the  very  man  who,  in  dis- 
guise, cut  off  the  king's  head.  This  was  never  be- 
lieved by  the  persons  who  spread  the  report. 

His  ministerial  conduct  while  he  was  in  England 
has  been  the  subject  of  animadversion.  He  was 
more  respectable  among  his  brother  clergymen,  as 
a  preacher,  than  he  appeared  before  Cromwell,  and 
the  army,  when  he  beat  the  pulpit  drum  to  carry  on 
their  warfare.  It  i^  said,  he  was  not  friendly  to 
the  charities  for  propagating  the  gospel  among 
the  Indians.  This  is  a  fact.  .  He,  perhaps,  had 
little  hopes  of  success.  Allowing  the  prospect 
lair,  he  spake  with  contempt  of  the  management  of 
their  friends,  and  of  their  parsimonious  treatment  of 


PHI  377 

Mr.  Eliot,  of  which  that  good  man  complains.  The 
president  of  the  society,  Mr.  Steel,  thus  writes  to 
'  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  in  a  letter 
dated  18th  Feb.  1653  :  '*  Mr.  Peters  who  but  14 
days  before  told  Mr.  Winslow  in  plain  terms  he 
heard  the  work  was  only  a  cheat,  and  that  there  wasv 
110  such  thing  as  gospel  conversion  among  them 
presently  after  charged  the  same  man,  upon  a  letter 
he  received  from  Mr.  Weld,  that  you,  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  united  colonies,  forbad  the  work  in 
that  you  would  not  allow  competent  maintenance  to 
Mr.  Eliot  and  others  that  laboured  therein  ;  and 
however  we  have  otherwise  charitable  thoughts  of 
Mr,  Peters  ;  yet  he  has  been  all  along  a  bad  instru- 
ment towards  this  work  who  though  of  a  committee 
of  the  army  for  the  advance  of  it  amongst  them  yet 
protested  against  contributing  a  penny  towards  it 
in  his  person  ;  and  indeed  some  of  us  have  been 
fain  to  intreat  the  rest  of  the  gentlemen  not  to  trou- 
ble him  any  further  m  the  business  :  nor  know  we 
any  cause  unless  it  be  that  the  work  is  coming  to 
such  perfection  and  he  hath  not  had  the  least  hand 
or  finger  in  it."*  Records  United  Colonies ,  vol,  ii, 
page  313,  Bentley^s  History  of  Salem.  Critical 
Lif^^f  Hugh  Peters, 

Phillips  George,  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Watertown,  is  called,  by  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  **  one 
of  the  first  saints  in  New  England,"  He  was  born 
at  Raymund  in  Great  Britain,  and  had  an  universi- 
ty education,  but  the  name  of  the  college  is  not 

*  The  publications  of  Mr.  Peters  are,  a  sermon  preached  before 
both  houses  of  parliament,  the  lord  mayor  and  aldermen  of  Lon- 
don, and  assembly  of  divines,  4to  1646;  Pettrs's  last  report  of 
the  English  wars,  occasioned  by  the  importunity  of  a  friend, 
pressing  an  answer  to  sorne  queries,printed  the  same  year,  4to. ; 
9  word  for  the  army,  and  two  words  to  the  kingdom,  to  clear  the 
one,  and  cure  the  other,  forced  in  much  plainness  and  brevity, 
from  their  faithful  servant  Hugh  Peters,  1647  ;  he  also  wrote, 
good  work  for  a  good  magistrate,  or  a  short  cut  to  great  quitt ; 
and  the  legacy  to  l)is  daughter,  which  was  published  after  his  e?i- 
ccution. 

3    A 


37?  PHI 

inentioned.  He  was  eminent  for  his  memory  and 
invention,  and  his  diligent  reading  of  the  fathers. 
He  was  settled  at  Boxford,  in  Essex,  before  he 
came  to  New  i\ngland,  with  gov.  Winthrop,  in 
1630.  His  wife  died  at  Salem>  upon  their  arriv- 
al, and  she  was  buried  near  the  lady  Arabella 
Johnson.  When  the  company  chose  their  set- 
tlements about  Charles  River,  he  fixed  upon  a  plea- 
sant spot,  which  has  ever  since  been  called  Water- 
town  ;  and,  upon  a  day  set  apart  for  solemn  fasting 
and  prayer,  they  entered  into  a  covenant.*  It  was 
signed  by  sir  Richard  Saltonstall  at  the  head  of  40 
names.  He  continued  pastor  of  the  flock  14  years, 
and  died  greatly  lamented,  July  1,,  1644. 

In  Wintlvop's  journal,  among  the  events  of  the 
year,  it  Is  written,  *' July  2d,  George  Phillips  was 
buried,  he  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  at  Wa- 
tertown,  a  godly  man,  specially  gifted,  and  very 
peaceful  in  his  place,  much  lamented  of  his  own 
people,  and  others.'^ 

He  left  a  son,  Samuel,  who  was  afterwards  min. 
ister  of  the  church  in  Rowley. 

He  published  "  a  vindication  of  infant  baptism  ; 
and  of  the  church."  It  was  recommended  by  the 
London  ministers.  Mr.  Shepard  of  Cambridge 
wrote  a  preface  to  it.  He  also  wrote  letters  in  an. 
swer  to  Mr.  Shepard,  who  differed  from  him  upon 
some  points  of  church  discipline.  Neither  his  or 
Mr.  Shepard 's  arguments  were  printed. 

Phillips  Samuel,  lieut.  governour  of  Massa- 
chusetts, was  the  son  of  Samuel  Phillips,  esq.  of 
Andover,  He  was  educated  at  Harvard  College, 
where  his  conduct  was  peculiarly  correct  and  ex- 
emplary.  He  was  much  esteemed  by  his  fellow 
students,  as  well  as  by  officers  of  the  society. 
Among  the  ingenuous  youth  of  the  university 
were  certain  associations  for  practical  improvement 
and  usefulness.  They  consisted  generally  of  good 
scholars,  who  combined  good  principles  and  pure 

*  This  writing  is  preserved  in  the  Magnalia. 


PHI  379 

morals  with  an  ambition  to  shine  as  sons  of  knowl- 
edge. At  the  head  of  these,  and  among  the  most 
active,  was  Phillips,  whose  name  and  character  were 
often  mentioned  to  stimulate  others  to  adorn  their 
own  lives.  He  was  graduated  in  1771.  When  he 
left  college  it  was  supposed  he  would  enter  one  of 
the  professions  ;  but  he  turned  his  attention  to  oth- 
er pursuits.  He  was,  however,  persuaded  to  go  into 
publick  life,  and  though  he  never  neglected  his  pri- 
vate concerns,  but  was  a  diligent  promoter  of  every 
good  thing  in  the  small  circle  of  those,  who  '*  rose 
up  and  called  him  blessed,"  yet  was  he  as  assidu- 
ous and  unwearied  in  his  attention  to  his  publick 
duties  of  the  general  court.  He  seemed  to  make  it 
a  part  of  religious  principle  to  be  punctual  to  his 
engagements,  that  he  might  redeem  time  in  every 
way  possible.  Hence  he  w^as  able  to  accomplish  so 
much  business,  besides  alluring  others  to  diligence 
by  his  example.  He  was  representative'  from  his 
native  town  in  the  year  1775,  a  year  remarkable  in 
our  annals-5  and  was  then  called  one  of  the  best 
speakers  in  the  assembly.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  was  in  the  lower  house  ;  but  as  soon  as  the 
constitution  was  formed  for  the  state,  he  was  chos- 
en a  senator  frojn  the  county  of  Essex.  It  was 
during  the  winter  of  1779,  80,  the  draught  of  the 
committee,  which  was  presented  to  the  conven- 
tion, became  the  subject  of  discussion.  Mr.  Phil- 
lips was  of  the  committee  that  made  the  draught, 
and  supported  the  main  questions  in  it  in  the  larger 
assembly.  In  1785,  he  was  chosen  president  of  the 
senate,  and  continued  to  be  elected  till  he  was  hon- 
oured with  the  second  place  in  the  government.  In 
1781,  he  was  also  appointed  justice  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas,  and  held  the  office  till  the  year  1797. 
During  the  whole  period  of  his  publick  life,  he 
was  very  friendly  to  the  interests  of  literature.  It 
was  a  rare  thing  to  find  him  absent  from  the  board 
of  overseers  of  the  University.     He  was  often   on 


380  PHI 

committees,  and  improved  the  opportunities  to 
render  essential  services  to  the  place  of  his  educa- 
tion. He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  original  mem- 
bers of  the  academy  of  arts  and  sciences. 

In  1793,  he  received  a  diploma  of  doctor  of  laws, 
which,  in  the  opinion  of  our  first  lawyers,  was  be- 
stowed with  great  judgment. 

He  was  a  professor  of  religion  from  his  youth, 
and  possessed  a  very  evangelical  spirit.  This  was 
manifested  in  fruits  of  piety,  virtue  and  benevolence. 
By  his  will,  we  find  he  employed  his  last  days  in  ex- 
hibitions of  the  law  of  kindness  which  should  yield 
their  fragrance  after  his  body  was  laid  in  the  dust. 
The  first  object  of  his  legacies  was,  to  serve  the  ris- 
ing generation i  that  they  might  early  know,  that, 
without  being  good,  they  could  never  be  happy. 
He  also  left  a  considerable  sum  towards  promoting 
the  cause  of  religion  and  learning,  which  is  not  in- 
eluded  in  the  charity  for  the  benefit  of  district 
schools.  He  supported  years  of  ill  health  and  bo- 
dily  infirmities,  until  he  breathed  his  last,  Feb.  10, 
1802,  in  the  50th  year  of  his  age.* 

*  Other  gentlemen  of  the  name  of  Phillips  have  made  a  con- 
siderablt  fiijiirein  New  England,eitheras  magistrates,  or  divines. 
Rev.  Samuel  Philhps  o(  Rowley,  and  the  rev.  Samuel  Phil- 
lips, grandfather  to  the  lieut.  governour,  and  pastor  of  the  first 
church  in  Andover,  were  gentlemen  highly  respectable  in  their 
profession. 

The  hon.  John  Phillips,  of  Charlestown,  who  died  in  1709.  He 
was  for  many  years  one  of  his  majesty'*s  council. 

John  Phillips,  esq,  of  B6ston,  colonel  of  the  Boston  regiment, 
and  representative  for  the  town  at  the  general  court* 

William  Phillips,  esq.  of  Boston,  son  of  the  rev.  Mr.  P.  of  An- 
tiover,  was  highly  distinguished  among  the  patriots  of  1775.  At 
that  time  he  was  one  of  the  Boston  representatives,  and  was  af- 
terwards of  the  senate  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  one  of  the 
tnost  opulent  merchants  in  tht;  town,  and  his  name  is  worthy  of 
respect  for  his  many  benevolent  exertions  to  promote  useful  in- 
stitutions. Mr  Phillips  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which 
formed  the  state  constitution  ;  and  also  a  member  of  the  conveh- 
tron  which  adopted  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 

i>amuel  Phillips,  the  father  of  the  lieut.  governour,  was  a  per- 


PHI  381 

if^HiPS  SIR  William,  was  born  at  Pemaquid^ 
Feb.  2  1650.  His  mother  had  26  children.  Of 
these,  21  were  sons,  and  William  one  of  the  young- 
est, who  lived  with  his  mother  until  he  was  18  years 
old.  The  father  died  when  he  was  a  child.  He 
then  bound  himself  to  a  ship  carpenter,  and  after- 
wards set  up  his  trade  at  Boston.  He  was  so  illite- 
rate that  he  could  not  read  nor  write,  but  discover- 
ed talents,  and  a  remarkable  spirit  of  enterprise. 
He  soon  acquired  learning  sufficient  for  all  the  pur- 
poses of  common  life,  and  address  enough  to  re- 
commend himself  to  a  young  widow  of  a  respecta- 
ble family,  with  whom  he  became  connected  by 
marriage.  When  he  became  master  of  his  trade,  he 
built  a  ship  at  Sheepscot  river  ;  but  was  soon  driv- 
en off  by  the  Indians.  Afterwards  he  followed  the 
sea,  and  hearing  of  a  Spanish  wreck  near  the  Baha- 
mas, he  went  to  England,  and  offered  to  go  in  search 
of  it.  They  sent  him  upon  this  business  in  the  Al- 
gier  and  Hose  frigates,  but  he  failed  of  success. 
This  was  in  1683.  But  instead  of  being  discour- 
•aged  he  importuned  to  be  sent  once  more  with  a 

son  of  note  in  the  town  and  coulitry  where  he  lived.  He  was 
graduated  at  Cambridge,  1 734^  was  justice  of  the  peace,  represen- 
tative and  counsellor.  He  founded  the  academy  at  Andover,  if\ 
1778,  with  the  assistance  of  his  brother  William  Phillips,esq.  and 
his  other  brother  John  PhiUips,  esq.  of  Exeter  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. The  gentleman  last  mentioned  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1733  ;  had  a  degree  of  doctor  of  laws  from  Dart- 
mouth University,  and  rendered  himself  very  conspicuous,  while 
lie  lived,  for  his  benevolent  deeds.  He  founded  and  liberally  en- 
dowed an  academy  at  Exeter,antl  at  his  death  left  large  sums  for 
pious  and  literary  institutions. 

In  the  "  retrospect  of  the  eighteenth  century'*  by  the  rev.  Dr. 
Miller  of  New  York,  that  excellent  writer  observes, "  The  ilimi- 
ly  of  Philhps  in  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  has  been 
long  distinguished  for  its  great  wealth,  and  also  for  its  love  of 
religion  and  literature.  A  complete  history  of  the  munificence 
towards  publick  institutions  at  different  times,  by  the  members  of 
this  family,  would  probably  furnish  an  amount  of  bene  (actions 
seldom  equalled  in  this  country." 

He  also  observes, "  that  in  furnishing  instances  of  individual  li- 
berality to  publick  institutions  it  is  believed  that  Massachusetts 
Exceeds  all  other  states." 


382  P  H  I 

kind  of  romantick  assurance  which  might  strike  ad- 
venturers, but  would  never  succeed  with  men  of 
calculation.  The  duke  of  Albemarle  fitted  him  out 
for  a  second  voyage,  and  he  brought  from  the  wreck 
300,000  pounds,  his  own  share  being  only  about 
16,000.  For  this  success  he  was  much  applauded', 
and  the  king  knighted  him.  He  also  appointed  him. 
high  sheriff  of  New  England,  but  not  falling  in  with 
the  measures  of  Andross  and  Randolph,  his  place 
was  not  easy  to  him,  and  he  returned  to  the  old 
t:ountry.  While  he  remained  in  Boston,  he  built  a 
large  brick  house  in  Charter  street,  which  even  at 
this  day  makes  an  elegant  appearance. 

He  always  said  that  when  he  was  a  poor  sheep 
shearer  at  Kennebeck  river,  he  dreamt  that  he  should 
be  captain  of  a  ship,  and  build  a  brick  house  in 
Boston,  This  is  related  by  C.  Mather,  with  a  num- 
ber of  marvellous  circumstances.  King  James  of- 
fered him  the  government  of  New  England,  but  he 
did  not  accept  it. 

In  1690,  he  took  Port  Royal,  but  was  not  so  suc- 
cessful in  the  expedition  against  Quebec.  The 
accounts  of  these  military  enterprises  are  recorded 
in  the  annals  of  those  times.  At  the  anniversary 
election,  1690,  May  30,  sir  William  Phips  was 
chosen  by  the  freemen  a  magistrate  of  the  colony. 
He  did  not  stay  long  in  Boston,  however,  but  em- 
barked again  for  England,  to  solicit  an  expedition  to 
Canada,  being  fully  assured  that  it  was  in  his  pow- 
er to  reduce  the  province  to  the  subjection  of  the 
British  government.  At  this  time  the  agents  of 
Massachusetts  were  making  application  to  king 
William  for  a  restoration  of  their  old  charter. 
When  this  could  not  be  obtained,  and  the  charter  of 
William  and  Mary  was  accepted,  sir  William  Phips 
was  invested  with  a  commission  to  be  "  captain  gen- 
eral and  governour  in  chief  over  the  province  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England."  He  arrived 
at  Boston,  May  14,  1690.  ..  4   '       .^ 

Different  opinions  will  always  be  held  of  men  in 


PHI  38S 

public  stations.  Sir  William  Phips  sought  the 
good  of  the  country,  according  to  his  own  apprehen- 
sion. *'  Palest  envy  must  allow  this,"  says  Dr. 
Mather,  who  devotes  nearly  40  pages  of  the  Magna- 
lia  to  the  biography  of  this  gentleman.  He  says  it 
is  not  enough  to  call  him  *'  father  of  the  province, 
but  he  should  be  called  the -angel,  assigned  to  the 
special  care  of  it,  by  a  singular  deputation  from 
heaven."  In  another  place,  he  speaks  of  his  '*  be- 
ing dropped  from  the  machine  of  heaven."  It 
seems,  however,  that  sir  William  had  the  passions 
of  men,  and  discovered  strong  corporeal  qualities  ; 
for  he  would  quarrel,  sometimes,  with  the  officers  of 
government,  and  use  his  fists  upon  certain  occasions 
to  bring  them  to  his  own  views  of  a  proper  conduct. 
Instances  of  this  sort  with  a  captain  of  a  man 
of  war,  and  a  collector,  occasioned  complaints 
against  him,  which  he  was  sent  for  to  answer.  He 
had  an  opportunity  there  to  justify  himself,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Hutchinson,  and  was  about  returning  ta 
his  government,  but  was  taken  sick  and  died  in 
London  about  the  middle  of  Februarv,  '  694.  He 
was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary  Wolnoth. 
The  character  of  sir  William  Phips  which  others 
give,  setting  aside  the  life  of  him  by  Dr  Cotton 
Mather,  which  is  rather  an  eulogy  upon  one  of 
the  pious  members  of  his  church,  is,  that  he  was 
a  blunt  honest  man,  who  had  a  lively  confidence 
in  every  thing  he  undertook,  open  hearted  and 
generous,  but  vulgar  in  speech  and  manners. 
His  talents  were  considerable,  otherwise  he  never 
could  have  done  so  much,  or  obtained  such  promo- 
tion. This,  however,  has  been  attributed  to  fortu- 
nate circumstances  rather  than  to  superiour  abili- 
ties. Histories  of  New  England,  by  Mather,  Doug- 
lass, Hutchinson. 

Phips  Spencer,  lieut.  governour  of  Massachu- 
setts, was  nephew,  and  adopted  son,  of  sir  William. 
He  was  a  man  of  respectability  rather  than  influence 
in  the  province,  and  was  more  indebted  to  his 


384  *  PIE 

wealth  and  connections  for  his  rising  to  office,  thai^ 
any  thing  very  splendid  in  his  abilities,  or  patriots 
ick  in  his  character.  He  was  of  his  majesty's  coun- 
cil a  number  of  years  before  he  was  appointed  lieut. 
governour.  Mr  Adam  Winthrop  was  a  candidate 
for  this  office  when  Mr.  Tailer  died  in  1732.  He 
was  the  friend  of  Belcher,  who  solicited  in  his  fa- 
vour ;  but  the  friends  of  Mr.  Phips  were  more  pow- 
erful, and  obtained  the  place  for  him.  He  was  lieut. 
governour  from  1732  to  the  year  of  his  death* 
While  Shirley  was  in  the  chair,  he  expressed  an 
opinion  that  the  lieut.  governour  was  not  a  coun- 
sellor ex  officio.  It  was  supposed  he  was.  He 
had  been  always  so  considered,  and  therefore  he 
was  not  chosen  by  the  legislature.  The  conduct 
of  Shirley  gave  great  disgust  to  the  lieut.  govern^ 
our,  and  led  him  to  much  retirement.  He  is  re- 
presented as  a  very  prudent  and  upright  magistrate. 
He  was  several  times  in  the  chair  of  government, 
and  was  in  this  office,  as  commander  in  chief  of  the 
province,  when  he  died.  This  event  took  place, 
April  4,  1757. 

Pier  SON  Abraham  was  from  Yorkshire.  He 
came  into  New  England,  and  joined  the  Boston 
church.  Afterwards  he  went  to  Long  Island,  with  a 
number  of  families,  who  removed  from  Lynn  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, to  this  new  plantation.  They  incorporat- 
ed themselves  into  a  church  state  before  they  went, 
and  also  entered  into  a  civil  combination,  for  the 
maintaining  government  among  themselves.  This 
was  about  the  year  1640.  The  town  they  settled 
was  called  Southampton,  east  end  of  Long  Island. 
Part  of  this  church  afterwards  divided,  and  went  ov^ 
er  upon  the  main,  and  settled  Brainford.  By  ad- 
vice of  the  council,  Mr.  P.  went  with  them.  The 
year  of  his  death  is  not  mentioned,  only  that  he  di- 
ed, leaving  the  name  of  a  prudent  and  pious  man.^ 

•  Dr.  Mather  mentions  three  worthy  divines  of  New  Haven 
<'olony,  who  were  famous  in  their  day.  Mr.  Blackman,  Mr. 
Prcrson,  and  Mr.  Denton,thefirstministerof  Stamford,  who  was 


•       P  O  W  385 

In  the  records  of  the  united  colonies,  there  is  fre- 
quent mention  made  of  his  services  to  the  Indians, 
for  which  he  had  a  fixed  sahuy.  When  Mr.  Eliot 
was  allowed  40/.  Mr.  Pierson  had  15/.  He  was 
a  missionary, whose  services  are  mentioned  ^vith  re- 
spect by  the  corporation  in  Eno;land.  They  ordered 
1500  copies  of  a  catechism  which  he  wrote  in  the 
Indian  lano;uage  to  be  printed  and  dispersed.  Mag- 
nalia.     Records  of  U.  C. 

FiERsoN  Abu  AH  AM,  rector  of  Yale  College,  son 
of  the  minister  of  Brainford,  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1668.  He  was  soon  after  ordained 
over  the  church  at  Killings  worth.  In  the  year 
1700,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  fellows  of  Yale 
College,  and  the  succeeding  year  chosen  to  preside 
over  that  seminary,  with  the  title  of  rector.  His 
character  was  high  as  a  scholar  and  divine.  While 
he  held  this  office,  he  composed  a  system  of  natur- 
al philosophy,  which  was  used  by  the  students  for 
many  years.  He  was  a  very  zealous  calvinist,  and 
strongly  attached  to  the  form  and  discipline  of  the 
Kew  England  churches.  It  was  the  general  wi5:h 
of  the  people  of  Connecticut  to  remove  the  College 
from  Say  brook  ;  but  they  were  not  able  to  accom- 
plish  it  during  the  rectorship  of  Mr.  Pierson,  The 
people  of  Killings  worth  opposed  it,  who  enjoyed 
the  excellent  preachingof  their  pastor;  the  expense 
of  the  removal  also,  was  more  than  could  be  allow- 
ed from  their  funds.  This  took  place  after  his 
death.  The  rector  died  in  April,  1707,  and  was 
greatly  lamented.  Private  mss».  Holmes^  account 
of  Tale  College, 

PowNALL  Thomas,  governour  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  was  descended  irom  a  respectable  family  in 
England.  His  mother  was  daughter  of  John  Burnis- 
ton,  governour  of  Bombay  ;  his  brother,  John  Pow- 
nall,  esq.  was  secretary  to  the  lords  of  trade,  Sec. 

also  a  Yorkshire  man,  and  first  setlled  at  Halifax,  in  F.Dt^land, 
"Though  he  was  a  h'ttle  man,  says  he,  his  v;cll  accomplished' 
mimi  was  as  an  '  Iliad  in  a  nut  shell." 

3    B 


SS6  P  O  W 

and  was  more  acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  these 
plantations  than  any  man  in  England.  By  his  at- 
tention to  the  business,  many  thousand  papers  re- 
lating to  the  history  of  the  colonies  are  now  regu- 
larly filed,  and  preserved  for  future  use,  which  had 
been  neglected  and  scattered,  and  in  a  few  years 
would  have  been  entirely  destroyed.  What  pre- 
cious documents  they  are  may  be  known  by  any  one^ 
who  has  read  Chambers's  political  annals  ! 

In  1757,  Mr  Pownall  was  appointed  governour 
of  Massachusetts,  in  the  room  of  Shirley.  He  ar- 
rived in  Boston  the  beginning  of  August,  and  im- 
mediately received  to  his  confidence  thpse  gentle- 
men, who  were  styled  friends  to  liberty  and  the 
constitution  of  the  province.  These  had  opposed 
the  late  administration,  which  had  been  strongly  sup- 
ported by  most  who  held  offices  in  the  state,  at  the 
head  of  whom  were  Hutchinson,  Oliver,  Paxton, 
&c.  A  lawyer  of  very  eminent  abilities,  Mr.  Pratt, 
who  was  afterwards  chief  justice  of  New  York,  and 
a  popular  clergyman,  the  rev.  Dr.  Cooper,  were 
always  considered  as  the  principal  friends  and  ad- 
visers of  gov.  Pownall.  They  were  men  of  talents  ; 
but  talents,  wit  and  satire  were  more  conspicuous 
on  the  other  side,  and  he  was  deeply  wounded  by 
the  shafts  of  ridicule,  or  by  serious  attacks  upon 
his  conduct.  When  he  found  his  intrigues  exposed, 
by  a  pamphlet  written  at  New  York,*  and  so  large 
a  part  of  the  government  of  Massachusetts  in  favour 
of  those  whom  he  had  injured  ;  his  great  preten- 
sions to  learning  of  no  avail  with  the  literary  socie- 
ties ;  his  own  manners,  light  and  debonnaire,  so  in- 
consistent with  the  grave  and  sober  habits  of  New 
England,  he  solicited  a  recall  from  this  government, 
and  was  appointed  successor  to  gov.  Littleton  of 
South  Carolina.  He  sailed  from  Boston  to  London 
the  3d.  of  May,  1760.  After  his  arrival  in  England 
he  obtained  offices,  which  he  preferred  to  a  govern- 
ment in  North  America.      He  was  chosen  a  mem- 

•  Historical  Collections,  vol.  vii. 


y  O  W  387 

ber  of  the  British  parliament,  and,  in  1762,  appoint- 
ed general  of  controul,  with  the  rank  of  lieut.  col- 
onel, to  tli^  combined  army  in  Germany,  a  short 
time  previous  to  the  peace  of  1763. 

During  the  time  of  his  being  in  the  parliament  he 
was  in  the  opposition  ;  of  consequence,  a  friend  to 
the  colonies.  His  speeches  and  writings  against 
•the  measures  employed  to  bring  them  into  subjec- 
tion, were  read  in  our  house  of  representatives,  and 
reprinted  with  lively  demonstrations  of  gratitude 
and  joy.  The  patriotick  exertions  of  this  gover- 
nour  were  contrasted  with  the  wicked  designs  of 
the  tory  administration  which  succeeded.  Pownall 
was  as  much  the  idol  of  the  whigs  as  Bernard  and 
Hutchinson  were  odious  to  them.* 

Mr.  Pownall  had  no  small  influence  in  the  house 
of  commons  from  his  knowledge  and  experience  in 
American  affairs.  While  those  who  knew  nothing 
of  the  colonies  represented  them  as  turbulent,  un- 
grateful, and  witliout  any  merit  in  the  conduct  of 
the  war  which  secured  Canada  and  the  West  Indies 
to  the  British  crown,  he  pointed  out  "  the  aid  they 
afforded  the  British  arms  whenever  they  were  em- 

*  A  town  in  thi^  district  of  Maine,  was  named  Pownalborough. 
Part  of  the  lands  before  they  were  located,  were  granted  to  the 
-governour.  In  his  latter  days  he  desired  these  might  be  sold,  or 
leased  in  such  a  manner,  as  a  fund  might  be  raised  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  professorship  of  law  in  Harvard  College.  This 
town  is  now  divided  ;  part  of  it  is  called  Wiscasset,  and  the  other 
part  Dresden.  The  reason  given  for  the  alteration  was,  that 
Wiscasset  was  the  Indian  name,  and  the  name  by  which  it  wap 
known.  It  is  right  to  preserve  the  Indian  name  ;  but  why 
change  that  of  Pownal  .for  Dresden  ?  It  was  supposed  to  be  a 
prettier  sound  ;  but  ought  any  thing  less  than  a  weighty  conside- 
ration to  make  wise  men  change  the  name  of  a  place  ?  Especial- 
ly when  a  town  has  been  so  called  out  of  respect  to  a  benefactor 
to  the  country.  Pownall  was  a  great  friend  to  this  province,  and 
the  friends  of  the  revolution  loved  him.  Why  should  his  nanje 
or  services  be  forgotten  ?  Besides  the  injustice  of  the  thing,  it  is 
bad  policy.  Who  is  secure  of  the  honours  given  him  by  one  gen- 
eration, if  the  next,  from  the  whim  of  the  occasion,  will  take  it 
away?  Shall  the  name  be  lost  before  the  mould  gathers  on  the 
sepulchral  monument,  or  the  letters  grow  illegible  on  the  grave 
stone  ?  How  will  this  lessen  the  stimulus  to  patriotick  exertions  ! 


588  P  R  A 

ployed  from  the  year  1755  to  the  peace  of  Paris, 
1763  ;"  he  censured  the  measures  in  operation 
against  the  colonies ;  he  urged  the  expediency  of 
repealing  the  revenue  acts,  and  redressing  every 
grievance,  not  merely  as  an  act  of  justice  to  them, 
but  for  the  honour  and  true  interest  of  Great  Bri- 
tain. 

He  lived  long  enough  to  s^e  many  things  take 
place  which  he  predicted.  The  pride  of  opinion  was 
gratified  ;  but  doubtless  he  lamented  the  dividing  of 
the  nation.  He  enjoyed  much  leisure  in  old  age, 
^nd  employed  himself  in  writing  books,  which  man- 
ifest great  political  knowledge,  some  scientifiick  re- 
search, but  cannot  be  recommended  for  an  easy  and 
correct  style.*     He  died,  Feb.  1 ,    1785. 

PRATTBENjAMiN,a  Celebrated  lav.  yer  in  Boston, 
and  afterwards  chief  justice  of  New  York,  was  de- 
scended from  poor  parents,  and  bred  to  a  mechani- 
cal employment.  But  the  misfortune  of  losing  a 
limb,  and  a  long  confinement  by  sickness,  led  him 
to  study.  The  powers  of  his  mind  were  uncom- 
monly strong,  and  he  had  made  some  progress  in 
scientifick  researclies  before  he  determined  to  give 
himself  a  college  education.  He  was  without  re- 
sources, without  friends,  and  somewhat  advanced 
in  years,  yet  he  knew  human  life  enough  to  believe 
that  every  thing  m.ay  be  done  by  perseverance.  He 
had  also  that  opinion  of  himself,  that  he  believed  he 
should  not  only  gain  a  subsistence  by  his  learning, 
but  make  a  shining  figure  among  his  contempora- 
ries. When  he  entered  college  he  was  admitted 
into  one  of  the  higher  classes,  was  better  informed 
as  well  as  older  than  any  of  his  classmates,  and  was 
graduated  in  1737.  His  name  is  the  lowest,  because 
the  students  were  then  placed  according  to  their 
parentage.  Upon  leaving  college,  he  entered  Mr. 
Auchnuity's  oflice,  as  a  student  of  law.    From  that 

*  His  works  are.  rii^hts  of  the  colonies  stated  and  defended,  4to. 
speech  in  favour  of  America,  1769;  administration  of  Britibh 
colonies,  17  74. 


I'  R  A  389 

s 

gentleman  he  derived  great  assistance,  and  he  af- 
terwards nriarrred  his  daughter.  At  the  bar  he  was 
distinguished  for  legal  knowledoe, and  a  philosophical 
arrangement  of  his  ideas.  He  was  aliio  an  able  rea- 
soner  in  the  housfe  of  representatives,  where  he  was 
a  member  for  Boston  a  number  of  years.  His  poli- 
ticks were  in  opposition  to  Shir!ty,  and  hence  he 
was  a  favourite  of  Pownall.  This  also  made  him 
popular  in  Boston,  where  his  splendid  abilities  might 
excite  admiration,  but  would  not  have  gained  hinn 
votes.  The  inhabitants  of  that  town  could  never 
love  a  man  who  had  no  complacency  in  his  disposi- 
tion, nor  urbanity  in  his  manners  ;  a  mm%  who 
emerged  from  low  life  to  a  high  station,  and  de- 
spised those  who  formerly  knew  him,  even  those 
from  wham  he  had  received  flivours.  When  Pow- 
nall left  the  province,  Pratt  lost  entirely  the  regard  oF 
the  people.  The  merchants  and  mechanicks  in  the 
town  were  very  indignant  at  his  conduct  in  the 
general  court  in  supporting  a  motion  to  send  away 
the  province  ship.  This  ship,  though  owned 
by  the  government,  was  designed  to  protect  the 
trade,  and  the  merchants  had  subscribed  liberally 
towards  building  her.  Yet,  in  the  midst  of  the  war, 
it  was  proposed  by  Pownall's  friends,  that  liiis  ship 
should  leave  the  station,  and  the  trade  suffer  mere- 
ly for  his  personal  honour  or  safety.  The  clainour 
was  so  great,  that  the  governour  found  it  necessa- 
ry to  take  his  passage  in  a  private  vessel.  But  the 
spirit  of  the  people  was  not  suddenly  calmed.  A 
larger  town  meetmg  than  ever  had  assembled  at 
Faneuil  hall,  di^. covered  their  displeasure  by  leaving 
out  Pratt  and  Tyng  from  the  list  of  their  represen- 
tatives. Pownall,  however,  remembered  Mr.  Pratt, 
and  by  his  recommendation  he  was  made  chief  jus- 
lice  of  New  York.  He  died  soon  after  this  promo- 
tion. 

What  talents  judge  Pratt  possessed  as  a  fme^vrit- 
cr  we  canaot  learn  from  any  publication  with  his 
name.    The  verses  fouad  in  his  study,  and  publish^ 


.390  P  K  1 

ed  in  tlie  Royal  AmQrican  magazine,  April,  1774, 
discover  a  strong  vigour  of  fancy.  If  these  were 
his  own  compositions,  he  ought  to  have  exercised 
a  fine  genius  for  poetry. 

Prince  Thomas,  governour  of  the  colony  of 
Plymouth,  was  first  elected  into  this  office  in  the 
year  1634  ;  afterwards,  in  1638.  When  gov.  Brad- 
ford died,  in  1657,  he  was  chosen  to  succeed  him, 
and  continued  to  be  chosen  as  long  as  he  lived. 
For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  assistants,  and 
commissioner  to  the  united  colonies.  He  was  one 
of  this  respectable  body  when  the  disputes  happen- 
ed  between  Massachusetts  and  the  other  colonies 
about  the  war  with  the  Dutch,  and  joined  heartily 
in  the  letter  of  reproof  which  the  colony  of  Plymouth 
sent  to  our  general  court.  Mr.  Morton  gives  him 
the  character  "  of  a  very  worthy,  pious  gentleman, 
capable  of  the  office  of  government."  He  was  a 
man  of  great  integrity,  a  just  man  in  private  life, 
and  so  steady  to  his  trust,  as  never  to  betray  the 
publick  confidence  reposed  in  him.  Douglass  says, 
he  had  "  strong  natural  powers,  but  no  learning." 
He  was  a  friend  to  learning  and  religion,  whatever 
his  own  acquirements  might  be,  according  to  the 
account  we  have  *'  that  the  most  able  men  in  the 
colony  thought  no  method  would  be  more  effectual 
in  preventing  the  churches  being  overwhelmed  with 
ignorance,  than  the  election  of  Mr.  Prince  to  the 
office  of  governour ;  and  this  point  being  gained, 
the  adverse  party  from  that  time  sunk  into  confu- 
sion.*''* He  also  procured  revenues  for  the  sup- 
port of  grammar  schools.  It  was  this  gentleman, 
with  six  others,  who  first  settled  the  town  of  East- 
ham.  He  removed  there,  in  1644,  and  returned  to 
Plymouth,  when  he  was  fixed  in  the  chair  of  govern- 
ment. 

Gov.  Prince  died,  March  29,  1673,  in  the  73do 
year  of  his  age.  Having  lived  in  New  England 
from  the  year  1621.  Morton's  Memorial,  Prince's 
Annals,  £jfc.  ^c* 

*  Historical  collections,  vol.  viii.  page  167. 


P  R  I  391; 

Prince  Thomas,  was  born  at  Middleborongh, 
and  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1707.  He  pass- 
ed several  years  in  travelling,  but  with  no  particular 
object.  He  says,  "thatwlien  he  made  reflections  up- 
on that  part  of  his  life,  he  never  could  see  with  sat- 
isfaction the  reasonableness  and  consistency  of  it." 
While  he  was  in  England  he  was  invited  to  settle 
as  a  minister  in  several  places,  but  his  love  to  his 
native  country  induced  him  to  return.  He  arrived 
at  Boston  in  1717,  having  been  absent  about  seven 
years.  He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Old  South 
church,  Oct.  1,  1718,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
learned  and  useful  men  of  the  age.  He  would  de- 
serve this  character  if  he  had  never  published  any 
thing  but  the  chronology. 

The  worth  of  this  book  was  not  known  at  the 
time  he  wrote  it.  He  enlarged  his  method  from 
what  the  proposals  stated,  and  the  first  part  of  the 
work  was  so  unacceptable  to  the  publick,  that  he 
could  not  get  subscribers  to  the  second  volume. 
He  did,  however,  publish  several  numbers  which 
bring  the  New  England  annals  down  to  1633,  and 
which  are  so  valuable  for  the  precious  documents 
they  contain,  that  all  who  look  into  the  affairs  of  their 
own  country  lament  the  work  was  not  continued. 
Concerning  this  book  one  of  the  first  men  of  that  gen- 
eration, Mr.  Callender  writes,  in  a  letter,  dated  New- 
port, April  4,  1739,  **  It  gives  me  great  concern, 
that  Mr.  Princess  chronology  has  been  so  ill  receiv- 
ed. I  look  on  it  as  an  honour  to  the  country  as 
well  as  to  the  author,  and  doubt  not  but  posterity 
will  do  him  justice.  But  that  you  will  say  is  too 
late.  Some  of  the  very  best  books  have  had  the 
same  fate  in  other  places  and  other  ages.  I  need 
not  tell  you  of  Milton,  Rawleigh,  &c.  I  wish  for 
/lis  sake  he  had  taken  less  pains  to  serve  an  ungrate- 
ful and  injudicious  age,  lest  it  should  discourage 
his  going  on  with  his  design.  I  hope  it  will  not, 
and  hope  you  will  encourage  him^  for  sooner  or  iat- 
er  the  country  will  see  the  advantage  of  his  work 
and  their  obligation  to  him." 


392  .  P  R  I 

That  Mr.  Prince  was  a  great  scholar  is  evident 
from  the  opinion  given  of  him  by  the  most  Ic^arned 
men  among  us.  Dr.  Chaiincy  says,  "  he  may  be 
justly  characterised  as  one  of  our  great  men,  that 
his  learning  was  very  extensive,  but  that  he  was  ve- 
ry credulous.  He  could  easily  be  imposed  upon. 
Another  imperfection  hurtful  to  him,  was  a  strange 
disposition  to  regird  more  the  circumstances  of 
things,  and  sometimes  minute  and  trifling  ones, 
than  the  things  themselves."  He  says,  from  his 
own  acquaintance  with  him,  he  could  relate  many 
instances  of  this  ;  yet  with  all  these  weaknesses  he 
possessed  intellectual  powers  far  beyond  what  is 
common. 

As  a  preacher  Mr.  Prince  was  excellent,  if  we 
may  judge  from  the  sermons  he  published.  It  is 
said  his  delivery  was  bad.  Objections  have  been 
made,  that  he  frequently  rendered  his  common  dis- 
courses  too  learned  for  common  people.  He  print- 
ed the  discourse  at  his  own  ordination,  which  no 
ordinary  man  could  write  ;  several  funeral  discour- 
ses, which  are  as  remarkable  for  their  pathetick  effu- 
sions, as  judicious  observations,  and  are  valuable  on 
account  of  the  information  concerning  the  worthies 
of  Boston,  many  of  whom  belonged  to  that  church  ; 
the  election  sermon,  1730;  several  fast  and  thanks- 
giving sermons ;  and  also  published  some  philosophi- 
cal essays.  His  revisal  of  the  New  England  psalms 
in  metre  discover  his  acquaintance  with  the  oriental 
languages,  but  not  any  glow  of  fancy,  nor  the  least 
glimmering  of  genius.  A  man  may  be  a  good  his- 
torian and  no  poet. 

The  friends  of  Mr.  Prince  observed  his  declining 
health  with  anxiety.  The  means  used  to  restore  it 
failed,  and  he  died,  October  22,  1758.^ 

•  The  father  of  Mr,  Prince  was  Samuel  Prince,  esq.  of  Mid- 
rileborough,  who  was  born  in  Boston,  1649,  and  died  1728,  aged 
80.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  Plymouth  county,  and  a  ve- 
ry respectable  man.  His  son  wrote  an  account  of  the  family  with 
the  character  given  in  the  New  hngland  Journal,  July  15,  of  that 
year.  He  tells  us  that  lie  was  the  fourth  son  of  Mr.  John  Princej 


PUT  393 

Prudden  Peter,  was  minister  of  the  church  in 
Milford,  Connecticut.  He  came  with  his  church  to 
New  Haven,  but  removed  to  Milford.  There  he 
lived  many  years  an  CKample  of  piety,  j^ravity  and 
seal,  against  the  evils  of  tVi€  times,  which  our  pious 
ancestorscomplainedof,  in  thesame  manner,  as  those 
who  talk  about  the  «jreat  degeneracy  of  the  present 
age.  He  died,  A.  13.  1656,  in  the  56th  year  of  his 
age.  Dr.  Mather  says,  ''  that  his  death  was  felt  as  a 
pillar,  which  made  the  whole  fabrick  to  shake." 

Dr.  Trumbull  says,  that  his  estate  in  this  country- 
was  appraised  at  924/.  18^.  6^.  He  left  a  landed  in- 
terest m  England,  at  Edgton,  in  Yorkshire,  valued 
at  1300  pounds  sterling,  which  is  still  enjoyed  by 
some  of  his  heirs.  He  had  two  sons.  One  of  them, 
John  Prudden,  was  graduated,  after  his  father's  de- 
cease, at  Harvard  College,  in  1668.  He  settled  in 
the  ministry  at  Newark,  in  New  Jersey.  The  other 
inherited  the  paternal  estate.  Their  descendants 
are  numerous  in  Connecticut  and  New  Jersey. 

Putnam  Israel,  major  general  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  at  Salem,  Essex  coun- 
ty, Jan.  7.  1718.  His  parents  were  respectable,  and 
his  ancestors  among  the  early  settlers  of  Massachu- 


i^uling  elder  of  tlie  church  in  Hull,  New  England,  who  was  the 
eldest  son  of  the  rev.  John  Prince,  rector  of  Kast  Strafford,  in 
Berkshire,  England,  in  the  reign  of  James  and  Charles  I.  Elder 
Prince  came  to  Massachuselis  when  archbishop  Laud  persecuted 
the  non-conforn)i:.ts  He  was  two  or  three  years  at  the  universi- 
ty  of  Oxford,  but  did  not  think  himself  sufficiently  learned  to  en- 
ter into  the  ministry,  and  therefore  applied  himself  to  husbandry. 
He  died,  August  6,  1 676,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age.  His  second 
u'ife  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Hinckley,  esq.  governour  of 
Plymouth.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  rev.  Mr.  Prince  of  Bos- 
«)n,  and  of  Nathan  Prince,  a  distinguished  character  in  our  litera- 
ry annals.  A  man  of  superiour  genius  to  his  brother,  and  in  matlj- 
emalicks  and  natural  philosophy  superiour  to  any  nian  in  New 
England.  He  was  fellow  of  Harvard  College  many  years,  and  -^ 
candidate  for  the  professor's  chair.  He  wrote  a  book  upon  the 
laws  and  constitution  of  that  seminary.  This  was  after  he  was 
dismissed  from  the  government  and  instruction  of  the  college  on 
ficpouDtof  his  intemperate  habitsjwhich  destroyed  his  usefulness, , 
3  q 


394  PUT 

setts.  In  the  year  1739,  he  removed  from  Salem  to 
Pomfret,  in  Connecticut.  He  there  applied  him- 
self to  husbandry,  and,  being  very  industrious,  with 
a  firm  constitution,  acquired  a  good  estate.  In  the 
French  war,  which  commenced  on  our  frontiers,  in 
1755,  Mr.  Putnam  had  the  command  of  a  company 
in  Lyman's  regiment  of  provincials.  He  was  high- 
ly distinguished  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  rangers, 
who  were  the  most  bold,  active  and  enterprising 
men  in  th^  army.  Amidst  his  hazardous  undertak- 
ings, and  valourous  feats,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
suffered  every  hardship  which  Indians,  in  their 
sportive  cruelty,  could  invent ;  or  in  their  savage 
passion  execute.  He  returned  to  the  army  as  soon 
as  there  was  an  exchange  of  prisoners  In  1762,  he 
was  lieut.  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  provincials,  which 
were  sent  to  Cuba.  After  the  city  of  Havannah 
was  taken,  he  returned  to  New  England,  with  a  few 
of  his  regiment  who  had  escaped  the  dangers  which 
surrounded  them.  Some  had  fallen  in  battle,  ma- 
ny fell  a  prey  to  the  diseases  of  the  climate.  In 
1763  peace  was  proclaimed  between  the  English 
and  French  nations;  but  the  savages  of  the  Ameri- 
can wilderness  were  not  yet  tamed.  Gen.  Brad- 
street  was  sent  to  the  western  frontiers,  in  1764  ; 
col.  Putnam  was  with  him,  having  the  command  of 
a  regiment.  The  Indians  were,  however,  brought 
into  complete  subjection  without  much  fighting, 
and  col.  Putnam  returned  to  the  tranquillity  of  do- 
mestick  life.  Like  other  great  characters  we  read 
of,  he  went  from  the  field  of  battle  to  the  plough. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  revolutioi^ary  war, 
when  the  spirit  of  patriotism,  like  a  fire  bursting 
from  its  enclosures,  spread  over  the  country,  the 
name  and  actions  of  Putnam  were  on  every  tongue. 
His  soul  was  on  fire  upon  the  news  of  Lexington 
battle,  and  he  immediately  left  all  his  private  con- 
cerns for  the  field  of  action.  It  is  impossible  to  ex- 
press the  confidence  placed  in  him.  He  was  equal 
to  a  host.      It  waa  the  language  of  many,  that  the 


PUT  395 

British  troops  would  not  dare  to  come  out  of  Bos,- 
ton,  when  they  knew  they  would  have  such  a  hero 
to  oppose.  Oil  the  other  hand  the  loyalists  within 
the  lines  attempted  to  expose  to  ridicule  those  very 
things  which  excited  the  admiration  of  the  patriots. 
They  called  him  the  "•  wolf  catcher,"  a  mere  In- 
dian hunter,  who  was  hardly  equal  to  command  a 
company  of  grenadiers.  They  acknowledged  his 
courage,  and  several  of  the  higher  officers  of  the  ar- 
my, who  had  served  with  him,  gave  a  just  tribute  to 
his  other  good  qualities,  as  well  as  his  valour. 

He  conimanded  a  wing  of  the  army  during  seve- 
ral campaigns  ;  was  an  active,  useful  officer,  more 
brave  than  prudent,  and  frequently  wanted  dignity 
in  his  style  of  conduct ;  but  always  generous,  hu- 
mane, the  soldier's  friend.  It  was  unfortunate  for 
the  country,  as  well  as  himself,  that  he  was  taken  off 
from  all  active  service  by  a  paralysis  in  the  winter  of 
1779.  He  lived,  Jiowever,  to  enjoy  the  blessings  of 
peace,  to  see  his  country  in  prosperity,  his  friends 
contented  and  happy.    He  died,  May  29,  1790.* 

*  "  Amonj^  the  many  worthy  and  meritorious  characters  with 
whom  I  have  hadtiie  happinesstobeconnectedinthe  service  through 
the  course  of  the  war,  and  from  whose  cheerful  assistance  in  the 
various  and  trying  vicissitudes  of  a  complicated  contest,  the  name 
of  a  Putnam  is  not  forgotten  ;  nor  will  it  be  but  with  that  stroke  of 
time  which  shall  obliterate  from  my  mind  the  remembrance  of 
all  those  toils  and  fatigues  through  which  we  have  struggled  for 
the  preservation  and  establishment  of  the  rights,  liberties  and  in- 
dependence of  our  country.'*  Gen,  Washingtoii's  letter  to  ge?i» 
Putnam,  April  2,  1783, 

f'or  this  letter,  and  several  facts  we  are  indebted  to  col.  Hum- 
phreys, late  A^merican  minister  to  the  court  of  Madrid.  His  life 
of  Putnam  is  a  very  interesting  piece  of  biography.  It  will  be 
read  with  repeated  pleasure.  It  would  greatly  increase  our 
stock  of  information,  if  other  gentlemen  of  sentiment  and  obser- 
vation would  give  memoirsof  our  revolutionary  characters.  Ma- 
ny incidents  of  the  war  would  be  mingled  with  tlie  narrative  oi' 
their  lives.  Many  anecdotes  also  might  be  furnished  by  those 
who  knew  them,  intimately,  which  we  shall  doubtless  lose,  as 
those  who  relate  them  are  dropping  off  the  stage.  We  love  to 
see  men  in  all  their  various  attitudes,  whom  we  admire  for  the 
distinguishing  features  of  their  character. 


396  QUI 

Pynchon  William,  one  of  the  first  planters  of 
Massachusetts,  was   a   gentleman  very  respectable 
for  his  learning,  as  well  as  his  piety.      He  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  town  of  Roxbury.       With   this 
company  Mr.  John  Eliot  preferred  to  settle,  when  the 
first  church  in  Boston  were  very  desirous  to  have  him 
for  their  pastor.    Many  of  them  had  been  his  friends 
and  neighbours  in  England.     In  the  year  1636  the 
settlements  at  Connecticut  river  began.  Those  who 
settled  Windsor  went  from  Dorchester.     Mr.  Pyn- 
chon,  and   those  who  went  from  Roxbury,  settled 
higher  up  the  river.  The  place  was  called  Agawam, 
by  the  Indians,  which  doubtless  means  a  river,  in 
their  language ;  several  other  places  were  so  called. 
This  was  certainly  the   original  name  of  Ipswich. 
Mr.  Pynchon  may  be  considered  as  the  father  of  two 
principal   towns   in   Massachusetts,   Roxbury   and 
Springfield.      He  lived  to   old  age,  and  grew  rich 
trading  with  the  Indians.      It  is  said,  that  some  of 
his  landed  property  is  in  the  possession  of  his  pos- 
terity to  the  present  day.    It  is  a  fact,  that  the  town 
of  Springfield,  had  always  had  one  of  the  name  and 
family  among  their  magistrates.    A  late  appointment 
of  a  justice  of  peace,  since  Mr.  Gore  has  been  in  the 
chair  of  government,  is  an  evidence,  that  the  family 
is  still  worthy  of  respect,  as  it  always  has  been,  if 
we  view  the  line  from  their  first  ancestor. 

Pynchon  John,  who  had  been  a  magistrate  50 
years,  died  at  Springfield,  June  16,  1702. 

Pynchon  Joseph,  one  of  the  descendants,  was 
a  magistrate  for  the  county  of  Suffolk  ;  for  many 
years  of  his  majesty's  council,  and  died  at  Newtown, 
previous  to  the  revolution. 

QuiNCY  Edmund,  agent  for  Massachusetts  at 
the  court  of  Great  Britain,  was  born  at  Braintree, 
Oct.  21,  1681.  He  was  descended  from  worthy 
ancestors,  who  were  esteemed  highly  by  the  fathers 
of  our  country.  The  first  Mr.  Edmund  Quincy 
was  a  member  of  the  Boston  church,  wJuch  then  in- 
cluded Braintree,  in  the  yem^    1633.     He  died  at 


QUI  397 

the  age  of  thirty  three.  His  son,  PMmiind  Quincy, 
married  the  daughter  of  major  general  Gookin,a  man 
of  renown  in  that  generation,  and  whose  memory  is 
still  precious.  Mr.  Q.  was  also  distinguished  by 
his  honours  and  his  virtue.  He  fixed  his  residence 
upon  the  spot  now  called  Quincy  ;  was  lieut.  col. 
of  the  Suffolk  regiment,  and  a  magistrate  of  the 
county.  It  was  his  desire,  that  his  son,  the  subject 
of  this  article,  might  have  every  advantage  of  a  lib- 
eral education,  and  he  sent  him  to  Harvard  College, 
where  he  was  graduated,  1699.  The  father  died 
while  the  son  was  a  student,  in  the  month  of  Janu. 
ary,  1697. 

Deprived  of  his  care  at  this  tender  age,  the 
youth  improved  the  opportunity  he  had  to  ac- 
quire knowledge.  The  example  of  an  excellent 
father  was  before  him,  and  his  conduct  manifested 
the  influence  of  those  sentiments  with  which  his 
mind  was  early  imbued.  His  mind  was  active,  his 
genius  brilliant,  and  he  laid  up  wisdom  for  future 
years.  He  was  soon  honoured  with  the  confidence 
of  the  publick,  and  he  never  frustrated  the  fond 
hopes  of  those  who  loved  him,  nor  the  expec- 
tations of  those  w^ho  had  a  high  opinion  of  his  ac- 
complishments. In  the  year  1713,  he  had  a  com- 
mission from  gov.  Dudley  to  be  colonel  of  the  first 
regiment,  previously  to  which  he  had  shown  him- 
self to  be  a  very  active  and  skilful  military  officer. 

In  1718,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  judges  of 
the  superiour  court,  and  he  always  maintained  the 
dignity  of  this  honourable  bench  by  his  excellent 
deportment,  his  attention  to  duty,  his  wisdom  and 
integrity.  In  the  legislature,  he  was  a  very  eloquent 
and  graceful  speaker.  He  was  chosen  a  represen- 
tative  in  1713,  14  ;  and  one  of  his  majesty's  coun- 
cil the  year  succeeding.  In  the  year  1733,  he  had 
an  additional  commission  of  justice  through  the 
province.  ''  He  sought  not  these  honours,  but  sev- 
eral of  them  he  was  solicited  to  accept,"  as  we  are 
assured  by  persons  intimately  acquainted  with  him. 


398  QUI 

In  the  year  1737,  a  serious  controversy  took  place 
between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  about 
settling  the  boundary  line.  Commissioners  were 
appointed  by  the  crown  to  bring  the  dispute  to  a 
termination.  Air.  Q.  was  one  of  the  agents  of  this 
province,  before  the  commissioners,  and  was  after- 
wards chosen  to  represent  the  whole  business  be- 
fore the  court  of  Great  Britain.  Hutchinson  says 
the  Massachusetts  were  sure  of  their  cause.  ''They 
thought  it  safest,  however,  to  send  a  special  agent, 
who  was  joined  with  Mr.  Wilks  the  former  agent ; 
to  whom  was  added  Mr,  Richard  Partridge,  \vhose 
chief  merit  was,  that  he  was  a  relation  of  gov.  Bel- 
cher.  Mr.  Q,  died  of  the  small  pox,  by  inocula- 
tion, soon  after  his  arrival  in  London,  and  the  other 
two  knew  little  or  nothing  of  the  controversy."  Mr. 
Q's.  death  was  on  the  23d  of  Feb.  1737. 

The  loss  to  the  country  was  great,  as  he  was  one 
of  the  most  useful  and  accomplished  gentlemen  in 
the  province.  He  loved  his  country ;  and  understood 
the  laws  and  constitution  of  this  government  equal 
to  any  man  in  it,  and  was  very  popular,  as  well  as 
wise  and  judicious.  ''  He  walked  in  his  upright- 
ness,"  says  an  affectionate  friend,  '*  and  led  us  in 
the  way  to  heaven  by  a  shining  example  of  piety  and 
goodness.  His  memory  ought  to  be  always  dear  and 
precious  with  us,  and  his  great  name  mentioned  with 
peculiar  honour  in  the  annals  of  New  England.  Sem- 
per honos,  nomenque  tuum,  laudesque  mane- 
bunt."*     Hancock's  funeral  sermon.    Mss.  penesme. 

*  The  province  were  at  the  expence  of  the  funeral,  and  the 
e:eneral  court  gave  orders  to  erect  a  handsome  monument  in 
Bunhill  Fields,  London,  with  as  elegant  latin  inscription  englished 
as  follows  : 

Here  are  dejwsited  the  remains  of  Edmund  Quincy,  esq.  native 
of  Massachusetts  hay.  in  New  Kngland  ;  a  gentleman  of  distin- 
j^tiished  piety,  prudence  and  learning,  who  early  merited  praise 
lor  discharging  with  the  greatest  ability  and  improved  integrity  the 
various  employments  both  m  the  civil  and  military  affairs  with 
which  his  country  entrusted  him  :  these  especially  as  one  of  his 
majesty's  council,  a  justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  judicature, 
and  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  foot.    The  publick  affairs  of  his  coun- 


QUI  Sm 

QuiNCY  JosiAH,  jun.  an  eminent  lawyer,  ora* 
tor,  and  patriot,  was  the  son  of  Josiah  Quincy,  esq. 
merchant  in  Boston,  who  acquired  a  handsome  for^* 
tune  in  trade,  and  in  his  latter  years  retired  to  Brain- 
tree,  the  seat  of  his  ancestors.  His  son  was  born 
in  Boston,  1743,  entered  Harvard  College,  1759  ; 
where  he  was  distinguished  for  the  vivacity  of  his 
genius,  and  his  application  to  study.  In  1763,  he 
received  the  honours  of  that  seminary.  Three 
years  after,  when  he  proceeded  master  of  arts,  he 
pronounced  an  English  oration,  by  which  he  obtain- 
ed great  eclat.  Except  in  one  instance,  there  had 
been  no  English  performance  since  the  foundation 
of  the  college,  and  in  no  instance  could  an  orator 
have  been  brought  forward,  to  obtain  more  univer» 
sal  applause. 

At  the  bar  he  discovered  much  legal  information  ; 
he  was  energetick,  and  fluent,  and  seldom  failed 
of  impressing  his  sentiments  upon  the  jury  in  the 
most  pointed  and  perspicuous  manner.  His  politi- 
cal character,  however,  gave  him  the  greatest  claim 
to  publick  favour.  As  a  friend  to  liberty  the  peo- 
ple regarded  him  with  admiration  bordering  on  en- 
thusiasm. Those  who  have  heard  him  speak  will 
never  forget  his  voice  and  manner,  when  the  great  • 
body  of  the  people  assembled  in  Faneuil  Hall,  or  in 
the  Old  South  meeting  house,  to  express  their  ab» 
horrence  of  the  acts  of  the  British  parliament,  and 
their  determination  to  live  and  die  like  freemen. 
Mr.  Q.  had  a  tongue  to  speak,  and  a  pen  to  write, 
which  have  not  been  exceeded  in  this  country.  The 
controversy  between  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies 
was  the  general  topick  of  conversation.  The  reve- 
nue acts  had  been  passed.      The   Boston  port  bill 

try  so  requiring,  lie  enibarked  their  agent  to  the  court  of  Gre:it 
Britain  in  order  to  secure  their  rights  and  privileges.  Being  seiz- 
ed with  the  sinall  pox,  he  died  a  premature  death,  and  with  him 
the  advantages  expected  from  the  agency,  with  the  greatest  pros- 
pect of  success.  He  departed  the  delight  of  bis  own  people  but 
of  none  more  than  the  senate,  who,  as  a  testimony  of  their  love, 
and  gratitude,  have  ordered  this  epitaph  to  be  inscribed  on  hh 
monument, 


400  QUI 

soon  after  arrested  the  attention  of  the  people,  and 
Mr.  Q.  had  a  fine  opportunity  to  display  his  tal'ents 
and  patriotism.  His  publication,  in  1774,  entitled, 
^*  Thoughts  on  the  Boston  port  bill,  &c.  addressed  to 
the  freeholders  and  yeomanry  of  Massachusetts," 
was  a  seasonable  work,  fraught  with  much  informa- 
tion, written  with  becoming  energy,  and  it  stimu- 
lated the  body  of  the  people  to  manly  and  decent 
exertions  in  defence  of  their  natural  and  constitu- 
tional rights.  He  received  an  anonymous  letter, 
May  17.  1774,  from  the  British  coffee  house  in  Bos- 
ton, which  warned  him  of  the  imminent  danger  of 
his  life,  and  hazard  of  confiscation  of  his  property. 
To  which  he  made  the  following  re]^ly,in  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Gazette,  No.  3685  :  "  The  dangers  and 
wrongs  of  my  country  are  equally  apparent.  In  all 
publick  concerns  I  feel  a  sense  of  right  and  duty, 
that  not  only  satisfies  my  conscience,  but  inspires 
my  zeal.  While  I  have  this  sentiment  /  shall  per* 
se'vere^  till  my  understanding  is  convinced  of  its  er- 
ror. A  consideration,  that  will  not  be  warped  by 
the  arm  of  power,  or  the  hand  of  an  assassin. 
Threats  of  impending  danger  communicated  by 
persons  who  conceal  their  name  and  character,  ought 
never  to  deter  from  the  path  of  duty  ;  but  exciting 
contempt  rather  tlian  fear,  will  determine  a  man  of 
spirit  to  proceed  with  new  vigour  and  energy  in  his 
publick  conduct." 

The  health  of  Mr.  Q.  had  been  sometime  declin- 
ing. Amidst  his  vigourous  exertions  for  the  publick 
good,  he  thought  too  little  of  himself.  His  friends, 
therefore,  persuaded  him  to  take  a  voyage  across 
the  Atlantick,  which  might  also  give  him  an  oppor- 
tunity, from  his  own  knowledge  and  experience,  to 
explain  many  things  to  the  friends  of  the  colonies, 
and  thus  contribute  to  the  service  of  his  country. 
He  embarked  at  Boston,  Sept.  28,  1/74.  and  the  very 
day  on  which  he  arrived  in  the  harbour  of  Cape  Ann, 
April  27,  1775,  he  departed  this  life.  His  remains 
were  interred  in  that  town  with  every  mark  of  re^ 


Q  U  I  401 

^pect.  Few,  however,  compared  with  those  who 
felt  the  loss,  could  attend  the  funeral.  The  multi- 
tude of  the  people  were  his  mourners.  The  death 
of  such  a  man  was  a  heavy  stroke  upon  the  com- 
munity, as  well  as  his  family,  friends  and  acquain- 
tance. The  effect  it  had  upon  various  classes  of  people 
is  still  remembered.  Many  knew,  or  had  heard  of 
his  patriotick  zeal  ;  also,  with  what  eloquence  he  had 
plead  the  cause  of  his  country.  A  great  deal  was  ex- 
pected from  the  communications  he  would  make  of 
what  he  had  learned  abroad.  The  news  of  his  death, 
therefore,  when  a  general  gloom  was  spread  over  our 
publick  affi\irs  made  every  eye  look  down  with  con- 
cern, and  every  heart  throb  with  sensations  of  grief. 
It  was  a  subject  of  conversation,  likewise,  very 
natural,  that  two  of  the  same  family,  two  men  of 
sterling  eloquence,  who  had  the  love  and  confidence 
of  the  publick,  should  both  die,  when  the  country 
was  waiting  for  their  communications.  High  hopes 
seemed  to  be  raised  only  to  be  blasted.* 

*  The  grandfather  died  in  England  ;  the  young  gentleman  be-« 
fore  he  reached  these  western  shores. 

In  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  of  some  distinction  in  the  literary 
world  is  the  following  passage:  *'  I  think  it  worthy  of  observation, 
that  the  Quincy*s  have  been  friends  to  liberty  and  the  rights  of 
the  people  from  the  most  ancient  times.  When  the  English  bar- 
ons made  that  noble  stand  in  the  beginning  of  the  13th  century, 
that  obliged  king  John  to  grant  the  Magna  Charta,  sieur  de  Quin- 
cy  was  one  of  them.  Although  more  than  five  centuries  have 
rolled  away  since  that  great  event,  yet  the  spirit  has  not  been  lost, 
Josiah  Quincy,  esq.  m  the  most  trying  times  of  our  revolution, 
exerted  his  great  abihties  with  success  in  favour  of  the  rights  of 
the  people,"  he, 

The  family  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  ancient  in  Massachu- 
setts :  many  have  been  distinguished  in  publick  offices,  several  for 
their  abilities,  learning  and  patriotism.  Two  sons,  Edmund  and 
Josiah,  were  magistrates  in  the  county  of  Suffolk.  Josiah 
had  a  commission  of  colonel  of  the  regiment.  His  three 
sons,  Edmund,  Samuel  and  Josiah,  were  men  of  letters. 
The  youngest  of  the  three  made  the  greatest  figure  in  life,  and 
he  died  in  the  morning  of  his  days.  Edmund  died  abroad.  He 
was  a  zealous  whig,  and  a  political  writer  in  those  times.  Samuel 
was  a  poet,  and  an  elegant  writer  in  prose.  His  poli- 
ticl^s  were  different  from  the  rest  of  the  family.  He  w^s  ap- 
3  I? 


402  RAN 

Randolph  Edward,  rn  the  year  1676,  was 
sent  over  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  colonies. 
He  was  an  active  and  implacable  adversafy  to 
New  England.  He  brought  with  him  copies  of  the 
petitions  of  Mason  and  Gorges  relative  to  their  pa- 
tent of  New  Hampshire,  the  limits  of  which  inter- 
fered  with  the  grants  made  to  Massachusetts. 

While  he  was  in  Boston,  h^  represented  that  the 
province  was  refractory,  and  disobedient  to  the  re- 
quisitions of  the  crown.  He  was  zealous  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  episcopacy,  and  to  destroy  the 
New  England  churches  ;  and  he  was  the  principal 
instrument  of  depriving  the  inhabitants  of  Massa- 
chusetts of  their  charter  privileges,  the  people  a- 
gainst  whom  he  had  conceived  a  most  violent  an- 
tipathy. 

When  the  charter  was  taken  away,  and  James  11. 
succeeded  to  the  crown,  the  king  appointed  a  coun- 
cil to  govern  the  province,  of  which  Dudley  was 
president,  and  Randolph  was  one  named  in  the 
commission.  The  next  year  sir  E.  Andross  ar- 
rived with  a  commission  to  be  governour  of  New 
England.  Randolph  was  a  conspicuous  character 
during  his  short  administration ;  and  involved  in 
his  fate.  How  much  the  people  were  exasperated 
against  him  appears,  by  their  refusing  him  bail  when 
he  applied,  and  when  it  was  granted  to  others.  The 
house  of  representatives,  June   25,    1689,  voted, 

pointed  solicitor  general  when  Jonathan  Sewall,  esq.  who  married 
liis  cousin,  was  attorney  general.  He  left  his  country  with  the 
loyalists,  and  died  in  the  West  Indies,  after  the  peace. 

The  hon.  John  Quincy,  esq.  who  was  speaker  of  the  house  of 
representatives  in  1737,  and  afterwards  of  his  majesty's  council, 
was  a  nephew  of  the  celebrated  judge  Edmund  Quincy.  His  son, 
Noiion  Quincy,  esq.  was  chosen  a  counsellor  in  1774,  and  was 
one  of  the  eleven  whom  gov.  Gage  negatived.  One  of  his  daugh- 
ters married  the  rev.  William  Smith  of  Weymouth,  a  worthy 
divine,  much  beloved  by  those  who  knew  him.  The  late  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  his  excellency  John  Adams,  esq.  mar- 
ritda  daughter  of  Mr.  Smith. 

The  lady  of  the  late  gov.  Hancock  was  also  a  grand-daughter 
of  judge  Quincy. 


RAW  40.3 

^^that  Mr.  E.  Randolph  is  not  bailable,  he  having 
broken  a  capital  law  of  this  colony  in  endeavouring 
and  accomplishing  the  subversion  of  our  govern- 
ment,  and  having  been  an  evil  counsellor." 

Mr.  Randolph  died  in  the  West  Indies.  It  was 
said,  that  he  always  retained  his  prejudices  against 
the  churches  and  people  of  Massachusetts.  On  the 
other  hand  the  inhabitants  of  this  province  who  once 
held  him  in  abhorrence,  regarded  him  and  his  re- 
proaches  with  the  utmost  contempt. 

Ratcliffe  Robert,  was  the  first  episcopal 
minister  who  ever  formed  a  church  in  New  Eng- 
land. The  church  was  formed  in  the  year  1686, 
though  a  house  of  worship  was  not  built  for  some 
years.  It  has  since  been  called  th,e  king's  chapel,  or 
the  first  episcopal  church,  Tremont-street.  Randolph 
says,  "  the  congregation  consisted  of  400  souls.'' 
He  is  not  an  authority,  where  his  prejudices  are 
concerned.  This  society  grew  respectable  after  the 
charter  of  William  and  Mary,  being  the  place  of 
resort  of  the  crown  officers.  But  when  Ratcliffe  was 
rector,  they  met  in  his  house,  or  the  library  room 
in  the  town  house.  We  hear  nothing  of  Mr.  Rat- 
cliffe after  the  year  1686. 

Raws  ON  Edward,  secretary  of  the  colony  above 
40  years,  under  the  old  charter,  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College,  1653.  He  was  a  respectable  cha- 
racter, as  we  may  judge  from  his  having  this  office 
so  long,  while  there  was  an  annual  election.  He 
was  also  appointed  treasurer  of  the  corporation  for 
propagating  the  gospel.  In  this  office,  he  did  not 
give  so  much  satisfaction  as  in  the  other.  The  pray- 
ing Indians  complained  to  Ratcliffe  and  Randolph, 
that  they  could  not  get  cloaths,  &:c.  which  were  al- 
lowed them.  The  letters  also  that  came  from  England 
to  the  commissioners  here,  give  some  reproofs  which 
amount  to  a  charge  of  negligence.  He  lost  his  of- 
fice of  secretary  when  the  government  was  changed, 
being  succeeded  by  Randolph. and  afterwards  by  Mr. 
Addington.   We  do  not  learn  from  Mr.  Hutchinson 


404  ROB 

when  secretary  Rawson  died,  nor  has  he  even  giv- 
en his  name  in  his  index. 

Read  John,  a  gentleman  of  very  brilliant  talents^ 
of  sterling  integrity,  a  friend  of  the  people,  of  the 
laws  and  government.  For  his  superiour  abilities 
he  was  considered  as  one  of  the  greatest  lawyers  in 
this  country.  The  succeeding  generation  indulged 
a  pride  in  quoting  his  legal  opinions,  and  his  sayings^ 
in  common  conversation.  He  died,  at  an  advanced 
age,  Feb.  7,  1749,  having  been  graduated  at  Har- 
vard  College  at  the  commencement  of  1697. 

He  had  served  as  a  representative  of  this  town  for 
many  years  ;  and  afterwards  was  elected  into  the 
council.  While  he  sat  at  that  board,  he  was  their 
oracle,  and  was  eminently  useful  to  the  country. 

Revel  John,  was  one  of  the  five  original  under- 
takers of  these  New  England  plantations.  There 
arc  five  who  are  thus  distinguished  by  Mr.  Prince. 
Their  venerable  names  are  Winthrop,  Dudley, 
Johnson,  Saltonstall  and  Revel.  He  was  chosen  as- 
sistant, October  20,  1629,  30,  and  was  therefore  the 
10th  of  this  board.  He  returned  to  England,  with 
Mr.  William  Vassal,  the  succeeding  summer. 

RoBiE  Thomas,  fellow  of  Harvard  College, 
was  graduated,  A.  D.  1708  ;  instructed  a  class  from 
1714  to  1723  ;  he  then  studied  physick.  He  was 
eminent  as  a  mathematician,  and  a  handsome  writer  ; 
specimens  of  his  scientifick  abilities,  and  his  man- 
ner of  composing,  may  be  found  scattered  in  the 
magazines  and  newspapers  during  20  years  of  the 
18th  century,  particularly  a  letter  to  the  publick, 
concerning  a  very  remarkable  eclipse  of  the  sun, 
Nov.  27,  1722.  He  also  published  a  theological 
treatise,  or  a  discourse  upon  '*  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  superiour  to  all  other  knowledge."  It  was 
delivered  in  the  college  chapel  to  the  students, 
and  dedicated  to  president  Leverett. 

Robinson  John,  pastor  of  the  English  church 
atLeyden,  will  be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance. 
Vhoi^h  he  never  set  his  foot  on  this  American 


ROB  405 

strand,  yet  it  was  his  determination  to  follow  hi's 
ilock  into  this  wilderness ;  and  the  planters  of 
New  Plymouth  looked  up  to  him,  as  the  father 
and  friend  of  the  colony.  He  had  a  name  to  live, 
if  these  regions  had  never  been  settled.  His  abil- 
ities, accomplishments  and  sufferings  give  him  a 
claim  to  distinction  with  the  worthies  of  the  christian 
church,  but  it  is  as  the  pastor  of  the  Leyden  church 
that  he  becomes  the  object  of  our  biographical 
notice.  When  he  first  separated  from  the  church 
of  England,  he  was  reckoned  a  Brownist,  and  hence 
the  first  planters  of  New  Plymouth  have  been  called- 
Brownists,  by  European  historians,  in  which  they 
have  been  imitated  by  American  writers  who  ought 
to  know  better,  or  seek  accounts  from  the  right 
sources  of  information.  Mr.  R.  was  early  in  life 
among  the  straitest  sect  of  them  who  were  called 
puritans.  But  with  a  mind  open  to  conviction  he 
altered  his  sentiments  when  the  celebrated  Amesius 
controverted  his  opinion.  He  was  ready  to  embrace 
the  truth  of  the  gospel  in  its  simplicity.  Decked 
in  all  the  meritricious  ornaments  of  the  episcopal 
churches,  he  lost  sight  of  her  beauties,  and  vvould 
not  allow  the  church  of  England  could  be  a  true 
church.  But  afterwards  he  allowed,  that  many 
churches  were  founded  on  the  apostles'  doctrine  and 
fellowship,  which  only  needed  greater  purity  in 
their  forms  of  worship.  The  church  of  Leyden,  so 
far  from  being  Brownists,  were  considered  by  that 
sect  as  inimical  to  them.  Gov.  Winslow,  a  princi- 
pal member  of  Mr.  Robinson's  church,  says,  ''  The 
Brownists  in  Holland  would  not  hold  communion 
with  the  church  at  Leyden.  The  rev.  Mr.  Prince, 
w^hose  account  of  the  Plymouth  settlers  is  very  ac- 
curate, quotes  a  passage  from  Bailie,  the  bitter  enemy 
of  rigid  separatists,  which  says,  that  Mr.  Robinson 
W'as  a  man  of  excellent  parts,  and  the  most  learned, 
polished  and  modest  spirit  that  ever  separated  from 
the  church  of  England  ;  that  the  apologies  he  wrote 
were  very  handsome  ;  that  by  Dr.  Ames  a«d  Mr, 


406  ROB 

Parker  he  was  brought  to  a  greater  moderation  than 
he  at  first  expressed  ;  that  he  ruined  the  rigid  separ- 
ation, allowing  the  lawfuhiess  ol:  communing  with 
the  church  of  England  in  the  word  and  prayer, 
though  not  in  the  sacraments  and  discipline." 

It  would  have  been  happy  for  Plymouth  church 
if  Mr.  R.  had  come  over.  Elder  Brewster  would 
never  take  the  office.  The  gifted  brethren  gained 
so  much  influence,  as  to  make  every  preacher's  sit- 
uation uneasy.  If  he  had  not  the  ready  talent  of  ex- 
plaining the  scriptures,  he  was  put  down  as  a  man 
of  low  gifts  ;  if  he  were  superiour,  he  found  his  tal- 
ents in  more  demand  in  Massachusetts.  Our  old 
historians  give  this  account  of  the  church  at  Ply- 
mouth, and  since  that  day  many  instances  confirm 
their  opinion,  that  whenever  parishes  are  long  with- 
out a  minister,  they  find  it  more  difficult  to  settle  one. 
In  expectation  of  Mr,  Robinson's  coming  over  the 
church  grew  and  flourished  ;  but  when  these  expec- 
tations of  seeing  him  were  most  highly  raised,  they 
heard  the  sad  news  of  his  death,  1625.  ''It  has  pleased 
the  Lord  to  take  out  of  this  vale  of  tears,  your  and 
our  loving  pastor,  Mr.  Robinson.  He  fell  sick,  Sat- 
urday morning,  Feb.  22,  next  day  taught  us  twice, 
on  the  week  grew  weaker  every  day,  feeling  little  or 
no  sensible  pain  to  the  last.  Departed  this  life,  the 
1st  of  March.  Had  a  continual  ague.  All  his 
friends  came  freely  to  him.  And  if  prayers,  tears 
or  means  could  have  saved  his  life,  he  had  not  gone 
hence.  We  will  still  hold  close  in  peace,  wishing 
»hat  you  and  we  were  together,"*  Sec. 

The  parting  address  of  Mr.  Robinson,  when  his 
people  embarked  for  this  new  region,  has  been  fre- 
quently  printed  and  quoted,  and  no  speech  ever  dis- 
covered more  candour  and  excellent  spirit.  It 
shows  a  mind  above  vulgar  prejudices,  the  dignity 
of  reason,  and  the  meekness  of  a  christian.  "Words, 
says  Mr.  Prince,  almost  astonishing  in  that  age  of  low 
and  universal  bigotry,  which  then  prevailed  in  the 

*  Letter  from  Leyden>  quoted  by  Mr.  Prince. 


R  O  G  407 

English  nation  ;  wherein  this  great  and  learned  man 
seems  to  be  almost  the  only  divine,  who  was  capa- 
ble of  rising  into  a  noble  freedom  of  thinking  and 
practising  in  religious  n>atters,  and  even  urging 
such  an  equal  liberty  on  his  own  people.  He  la- 
bours to  take  them  off  from  their  attachment  to  him, 
that  they  might  be  more  entirely  free  to  search  and 
follow  the  scriptures." 

Rogers  Ezekiel,  was  born  in  England,  1590. 
He  was  the  son  of  Richard  Rogers,  an  author  of 
some  repute,  who  wrote  a  book  entitled,  the  seven 
treatises,  which  passed  through  several  editions  in 
London,  and  has  been  read  a  great  deal  in  New 
England.  Ezekiel  came  to  this  country  in  1638, 
with  a  number  of  people  from  Yorkshire.  He  was 
urged  to  go  with  them  to  New  Haven  ;  but  he  chose 
a  pleasant  spot  in  the  county  of  Essex,  where  he 
could  enjoy  the  society  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Rogers, 
the  first  minister  of  the  church  in  Ipswich.  It  was 
called  Rowley,  because  he  was  minister  of  Rowley 
in  Great  Britain,  He  preached  the  election  sermon 
in  1643.  The  first  twelve  years  of  his  ministry 
were  attended  with  great  success.  He  was  in  la- 
bours more  abundant,  so  that  a  young  man  was  settled 
with  him  as  a  colleague.  This  caused  jealousies  and 
divisions  in  the  parish,  and  his  life  was  unhappy.  He 
also  met  with  domestick  affliction.  He  buried  two 
wires  and  all  his  children  ;  his  house  and  furniture 
were  consumed  by  fire  ;  he  lost  the  use  of  his  right 
arm,  and  was  obliged  to  learn  to  write  with  his  left 
hand,  after  he  was  advanced  in  years. 

Though  sometimes  cast  down  by  the  discourage- 
ments of  the  world  he  was,  however,  patient  under 
many  tribulations^  He  believed  that,  after  making 
the  voyage  of  life  over  a  troubled  s^a,  he  should 
reach  the  haven  of  eternal  rest.  His  last  sickness 
was  of  a  lingering  nature,  and  he  died,  Jan.  22,  1668, 
in  the  79th  year  of  his  age. 

Rogers  Nathaniel,  was  the  second  son  of 
John  Roger^.  of  Dedham,  and  born   in    1598.     He 


108  U  O  G 

was  educated  at  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge,  and 
settled  with  Dr.  Barkam,  in  a  parish  called   Beck- 
ing, in  Essex  county.     He  had  no  scruples  about 
conforming  to  the    forms   and    ceremonies    of  the 
church  of  England  till  he  became  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Hooker,  and  he  then  began  to  show  his  dissat- 
isfaction, by  leaving  off  the  surplice,  which  gave  of- 
fence to  the  rector,  and  occasioned  a  removal.    Af- 
ter  this  the  bishop  of  Norwich  suffered  him  to  live 
quietly,  and  preach  at  Assington,  where  he  contin- 
ued five  years.     He  obtained  great   celebrity  as  a 
preacher  with  the  most  wise  and  judicious  people. 
Though  he  had  not  the  loud  voice  of  his  father,  yet 
he  was  a  lively,  florid  and  animated  speaker.     He 
came  to  New  England  in  the  year  1636  in  the  same 
ship  with  Mr.  Partridge,   and  was  invited  to  settle 
with  the  church  at  Dorchester ;  but  for  the  sake  of 
those  who  came  with  him,  and  could  be  accommo- 
dated better  at  Ipswich,  he  preferred  that  place,  and 
was  ordained  Feb.  20,  1638.      His  ordination  ser- 
mon was  2.  Cor.  ii.  16.     *'  A  sermon  so   copious, 
judicious,  accurate  and  elegant,"  says  Dr.  Mather, 
**  that  it  struck  the  hearers  with  admiration."     He 
gives  also,  a  very  particular  account  of  his  preach- 
ing upon  certain  parts  of  the  scriptures,   to  the  ac- 
ceptation of  the  people,  but  says,  that  he  printed 
none  of  his  discourses.     One  reason  was,  that  his 
disposition  to  be  accurate  was  such,as  would  injure 
his  health.    He  was  also  a  remarkably  modest  man, 
though  one  of  the  greatest  men  in  his  profession, 
'•  He  might  be  compared  with  the  very  best  of  the 
true  ministers,   which  made  the  best  days  of  New 
England."     The  biographer  says,  he  was  equal  to 
Norton  in  his  greatest  excellencies.     Such  a  man, 
though  w<)rthy  of  respect,  is  not  always  sure  of  it. 
The  wild  not-es  of  illiterate  preachers  are  frequently 
read,  while  the   best  compositions  are  neglected. 
Mr.  Rogers  suffered  many  trials.     He  was  subject 
to  hypochondriack  complaints,  and  was  often  a  prey 
to  nielaneholy  humours.     At  the  tim€  Mr.  Norton 


R  O  G  409 

was  called  from  Ipswich  to  Boston,  he  was  much  af- 
flicted, and  he  gave  displeasure  to  others.  He  did 
not  live  long  afterwards,  though  he  grew  better  of 
his  bodily  complaints.  In  1655,  an  epidemic  cough 
prevailed  in  the  country.  He  had  the  complaint ;  but 
with  no  symptoms  of  danger,  till  th^  morning  previ- 
ous to  his  death.  He  then  blessed  his  family,  spake 
cheerfully  of  heavenly  things,  and  when  he  had  utter- 
ed these  words,  as  his  last,  ''  My  times  are  in  thine 
hands,"  died  in  peace,  July  3d,  in  the  afternoon.* 

Dr.  Mather  says,  that  although  no  composures  of 
^his  worthy  man  came  from  the  press,  except  a  let- 
ter, which  he  wrote  in  1643,  to  a  member  of  the 
house  of  commons,  ''  concerning  reformation  ;" 
yet  he  had  in  his  hands,  a  manuscript,  written  in  a 
ijieat  latin  style,  whereof  he  was  an  incomparable 
master.  It  is  entitled,  *'  a  vindication  of  the  con- 
gregational church  government."  From  the  specie 
men  given  in  the  Magnalia,  it  mus|:  be  a  desidera- 
tum to  obtain  the  whole. 

Rogers  John,  president  of  Harvard  College, 
son  of  the  rev.  N.  Rogers  of  Ipswich,  was  born  in 
England,  before  his  father  left  Assington.^  and  came 
over  with  him  to  America.  He  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College,  1649,  and  was,  for  some  time,  a 
preacher  of  the  gospel ;  but  he  either  did  not  meet 
with  success  in  the  ministry,  or  was  more  attached 
to  the  theory  and  practice  qf  physick ;  for  he  left  one 
profession  for  the  other. 

He  is  described  as  a  man  of  piety  and  excellent 
temper.  *'  So  sweet  was  his  disposition  that  the  ti- 
tle of  delicia  humani  generis  might  have  been  given 
Ivm,  and  his  real  piety,  set  off  with  the  accomplish- 
ments of  a  gentleman,  was  like  a  gem  set  in  gold." 
He  was  chosen  tp  succeed  Mr.  Qakes,  as  president 

•In  1655,  a  distemper  went  through  the  plantations  of  New 
England  like  to  that  in  1 647.  It  was  so  epidemical  that  i<:.\s  were 
able  to  visit  their  friends  at  any  distance  to  perform  the  last  offi- 
ces to  them.  It  was  attended  with  a  faint  cough.  Mr.  N.  Roireiii 
^ninister  of  Ipswich  died  of  it,  July  2d,  Huic/timoTi , 
3  E 


410  KOG 

of  the  college,  and  installed,  August  12,  1G83. 
The  next  year  he  died,  July  2d,  the  day  after  com- 
mencement. 

An  epitaph  was  engraved  on  his  tomb,  written  by 
one  of  the  students,  supposed  to  be  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather.  It  is  no  very  elegant  specimen  of  classi- 
cal style. 

Rogers  Nathaniel,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Portsmouth,  was  the  son  of  president  Rogers,  and  was 
educated  at  Harvard  College,  1687,  and  ordained, 
May  3d,  1699.  He  was  a  very  pious  minister,  a 
strict  disciple  of  the  Geneva  school,  had  a  very 
agreeable  manner  of  preaching,  and  was  very  ele- 
gant  in  his  person  and  deportment.  With  all  his 
wisdom  and  affability  he  could  not  prevent  a  divi- 
sion in  the  parish  which  arose  upon  building  the 
new  meeting  house.*  The  majority  moved  fronx 
the  old  spot  to  the  north  section  of  the  town,  and 
have  preserved  the  name  of  the  first  church  to  the 
present  time.  The  inhabitants  of  the  south  end 
were  filled  with  resentment  at  their  conduct.  They 
organized  themselves  as  a  distinct  society.  In  this 
they  acted  with  the  advice  and  assistance  of  Dr. 
Mather  of  Boston.  An  ecclesiastical  council  was 
called,  which  only  widened  their  dfference.  Mr. 
Rogers  was  much  disgusted  with  the  conduct  of 
the  ministers,  who  gave  their  advice  to  the  people 
of  the  old  church.  Dr.  Mather,  on  the  other  hand, 
blamed  Mr.  Rogers,  and  wondered  how  so  good  a 
man  could  discover  so  much  ill  humour.  The  re- 
suit  of  the  council  is  not  exactly  known  ;  but  the 
most  just  inference  to  be  drawn  per  mss.  handed 
down,  is,  that  the  societies  separated,  and  did  not 
walk  in  love  "  till  that  generation  dropped  off  the 
stage.  Mr.  Rogers  died,  October  3d,  1723.  The 
inscription  on  his  monument  was  written  by  a  gen- 
tleman of  classical  purity  and  taste.  It  is  preserv- 
ed in  the  collections  of  the  Massachusetts  Histori- 
cal Society.     He  left  a  number  of  children. 

*  See  Alclen*s  account  of  Portsmouih. 


HOG  "  411 

The  oldest  was  the  hon.  Nathaniel  Rogers,  esq. 
father  of  the  present  judge  Rogers  of  Exeter. 
His  youngest  son  was  the  hon.  Daniel  Rogers, 
esq.  who  for  a  number  of  years  was  one  of  the 
king's  couneil,  when  New  Hampshire  was  a  royal 
government.  He  resigned  this  honourable  station 
\on  account  of  the  acts  of  the  British  parliament, 
which  prepared  this  country  for  the  revolution.  He 
was  a  wliig  in  principle,  a  man  of  a  strong  mind,  ex^ 
tensive  reading,  and  strongly  attached  to  the  prin* 
ciples  of  our  fathers.  His  lady  was  the  daughter  of 
the  hon,  John  Ringe,  agent  at  the  court  of  Great 
Britain,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Wentworth,  the  mother  of 
sir  John  Wentworth,  governour  of  Nova  Scotia. 

Rogers  John,  minister  of  tlie  church  in  Ipswich, 
was  the  son  of  president  Rogers.  He  was  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College,  in  1684,  and  a  few  years 
after  he  received  academical  honours,  he  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  church,  where  he  continued  his 
publick  labours  fifty  six  years.  H«  died  Decem- 
ber 28,  1745,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age.  An 
eminent  divine,  Mr.  Wiggles  worth,  t)fthe  same 
town,  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  thus  delin- 
ates  his  character  :  **  As  to  na^tural  endowments, 
he  was  blessed  with  a  cjtear  apprehension  and  sound 
judgment ;  was  of  a  thoughtful  and  inquisitive 
temper  of  mind  ;  in  the  diligent  improvement 
of  which  advantages,  through  the  blessing  of 
God,  he  acquired  much  valuable  knowledge ;  es- 
pecially much  of  that  knowledge  the  lips  are  to 
keep,  and  the  pastors  after  God's  own  heart  to  feed 
his  flock  with.  His  private  conversation  was  edi- 
fying and  pleasant.  He  had  a  conspicuous  degree 
of  prudence,  which  is  so  necessary  to  the  well 
managing  and  administering  the  affliirs  of  Christ's 
household.  He  was  robust,  useful  and  active  in 
old  age,  being  enabled  to  labour  in  word  and  dog- 
trine  to  the  last,  and  quit  the  stage  in  action." 

Ro<iERS    Nathaniel,    son   of  the    rev.    John 
Rogers,  was  settled  as  his  colleague  in  the  minis- 


412  R  O  G 

try.     He  was  graduated  in  the  year  1 724,  and  died 
in  May,  1775,  having  been  in  the  pastoral  office 
near  fifty  years.       Concerning  this  venerable  man, 
fls  one  speaks  who  was  well  acquainted  with  him, 
it  is  hard  to  say,  whether  the  great  or  good  was  his 
predominant  character.       But  it  must  be  admitted 
by  all,  that  there  was  in  him  an  uncommon  measure 
and  a  rare  combination  of  both.       He  had  a  very 
discerning  mind,  and  was  blest  with  advantages  for 
acquaintance  with  men  and  things.      He  exhibited 
generally   something  superiour  in  turn  of  thought 
and  manner  of  conversation.       He  could  be  enter- 
taining and  instructive,  so   that  young  men  took 
great  pleasure  in  his  company.       The  great  things 
of  the  gospel  were  to  be   sure   his  favourite  sub- 
jects.    As  a  preacher  he  avoided  vain  philosophy, 
and  subtle  disputings.      When  his  heart  was  most 
moved,  there  appeared  an  energy  of  address,  which 
is  rarely  to  be  met  with. 

In  his  latter  days  he  was  taken  off  from  his  la- 
bours, and  his  mental  faculties  impaired  ;  but  there 
were  lucid  intervals  when  he  conversed  like  him- 
self. The  people  of  his  charge,  and  the  neighbour- 
ing churches,  lamented  his  departure  with  expres- 
sions of  condolence,  that  were  lively  and  expres- 
sive.*     Dr,  Dana^s  mss, 

*  The  church  of  Ipswich  was  supplied  with  a  pastor  by  the 
name  of  Rogers  above  100  years.  The  first  Mr,  R.  was  with 
them  about  \7  years  ;  Mr.  J.  Rogers  56  ;  and  Nathaniel  between 
40  and  50.  The  family  descended  from  Mr.  J.  Rogers,  who 
was  a  martyr  to  the  cause  of  the  reformation.  He  was  burnt 
at  Smithfield,  1555.  Mr.  Rogers  of  Dedham  was  his  grand- 
son, whose  son  Nathaniel  came  over  to  New  England.  The 
branches  of  the  family  are  numerous.  No  one  name  has  been 
more  conspicuous  among  the  divines  of  Massachusetts.  There 
are  preachers  in  succession  for  a  number  of  generations. 
Several  have  been  famous  beside  those  we  have  mentioned. 
Mr.  Rogers,  of  Littleton,  who  was  graduated  in  1725,  with 
whom  the  compiler  of  this  work  once  served  as  an  assistant, 
possessed  very  superiour  talents,  was  a  very  rational  and  learned 
olivine,  a  man  of  scientifick  researches,  and  a  complete  gentle- 
man in  Jns  manners.     He  died  Nov.  25,  1782. 

There  is  nothing  ublished  with  his  nanit;,  and  it  is  something- 
P 


SAL  413 

tlossiTEB  Edward,  came  from  the  west  of  En- 
gland, and  was  chosen  one  of  the  assistants  for  the 
government  of  Massachusetts.  October  20,  1629, 
and  died  October  23,  of  the  succeeding  year.  He 
was  grave  and  pious,  and  possessed  considerable 
property.  His  death  was  felt  as  a  loss  to  the  colo- 
ny, as  we  learn  from  Dudley's  letter  to  the  countess 
of  Lincoln.  He  was  present  at  the  court  of  assist- 
ants held  at  Charlestown,  Sept.  28,  when  50/,  was 
to  be  levied  for  a  military  purpose.  This  was  the 
third  session  held  at  Charlestown,  although  the  ma- 
jority of  the  people  dwelt  on  the  south  side  ;  for 
Boston  Was  taxed  11/.  and  Charlestown  11, 

Saltonstall  sir  Richard,  one  of  the  fathers 
of  Massachusetts  colony,  was  the  son  of  sir  R.  Sal- 
tonstall, who  was  lord  mayor  of  London,  in  1597. 
He  was  the  first  associate  of  the  six  original  paten- 
tees mentioned  hi  the  charter  of  Charles  L  March 
4,  1628,  and  the  fourth  assistant  named  therein. 
He  came  over  their  first  assistant,  as  appears  from 
a  record  in  Prince's  annals,  who  tells  us  the  first 
general  court  met  at  Boston,  Oct.  30,  1630.  Pres- 
ent, the  governour,  deputy  governour,  secretary, 
R.  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Ludlow,  Capt.  Endicot,  Mr. 
Nowell,  Pytichon,  Bradstreet.  He  was  a  worthy 
puritan,  the  first  founder  of  the  church  at  Water- 
town,  and  a  great  friend  to  the  plantation.  He  stay- 
ed only  a  short  time  in  New  England;  but  his  heart 
was  engaged  in  their  interest.  Two  of  his  sons 
came  over  here  afterwards,  and  his  posterity  have 
made  a  respectable  figure  even  to  the  present  time» 
He  died  in  England,  about  the  year  1658,  and  in 
his  wi//  left  a  legacy  to  Harvard  College. 

remarkable  that  none  of  the  name  have  appealed  as  authors, 
though  so  many  of  them  have  been  celebrated  for  their  abilities, 
as  well  as  pulpit  talents.  In  1706,  the  rev.  J.  Rogers  of  Ipswich, 
preached  the  election  sermon.  This,  and  one  or  two  occasional 
Sermons  of  his  son,  and  three  sermons  by  Mr.  R.  of  Leominster, 
are  the  only  publications  we  have  met  with  of  the  name  in  N«ew 
England. 


au  SAL 

Saltonstall  Richard,  esq.  son  to  the  worthy 
knight  of  the  same  name,  came  over  here  in  the 
^^ear  1635,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  assistants  in 
1637.  He  continued  a  numl^er  of  years  to  help  on 
the  affairs  of  this  little  commonwealth.  Johnson 
says,  that  father  and  son  ought  to  be  remembered, 
and  celebrates  their  worth  with  some  of  his  poeti- 
cal effusions.  If  the  lines  would  not  immortalize 
their  deeds,  or  the  genius  of  the  writer,  they  have 
the  New  England  spirit  to  recommend  them  : 

"  His  father  gon.  youn-g  Richard  on,  here  valiantly  doth  war, 
For  Christ  his  truth,  to  their  great  Ruth,  heathens  opposed  are." 

Accrding  to  Mr.  Hutchinson^  Mr.  Saltonstafl 
continued  in  the  magistracy  till  the  year  1680,  ex- 
cept the  time  he  was  in  England.  He  had  made  a 
vow,  when  he  first  came  over,  that  he  never  would 
leave  the  country,  while  the  ordinances  continued  in 
their  purity.  His  wife  was  very  sick,  and  advice 
was  given  by  the  physician,  that  she  should  take  a 
voyage  to  England.  He  consulted  Mr.  Cotton 
whether  it  would  be  breaking  his  vow,  if  he  went. 
He  decided  that  it  would  not,  because  the  marriage 
vow  was  the  most  binding.  M.  C.  was  doubtless 
a  greater  divine  than  a  casuist !  In  1672,  Mr.  S» 
again  went  to  England,  and  made  a  present  to  Wha- 
ley  and  Goffe  of  50/.  before  he  sailed,  which  they 
acknowledged  in  their  mss.  We  suppose  this  to  be 
the  Mr.  Saltonstall,  mentioned  by  gov.  Winthrop, 
who  wrote  a  book  in  1642,  "  against  the  standing 
council,"  which  was  censured  by  the  court,  and  an- 
swered by  Mr.  Norris  of  Salem.  This  gentleman 
returned  to  Boston  in  1680,  and  was  again  chosen 
the  first  assistant,  and  also  two  years  succeeding. 
In  1683,  he  went  back  to  England,  and  died  at 
Hulme,  April  29,  1694.  He  was  a  relation  to  the 
famous  J.  Hampden,  was  opposite  to  the  court,  and 
attached  to  the  principles  of  New  England  govern- 
ment and  churches.^ 

**The  first  form  of  their  government,  was  that  of  governour, 
deputy  governour,  and  assistants  ;  the  patentees  with  their  heirs, 


SAL  415 

Saltonstall  Henry,  grandsonof  sir  Richard, 
was  in  the  first  class  of  graduates  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege. He  received  a  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine; 
from  Oxford,  and  was  fellow  of  New  College  in 
that  university. 

Saltonstall  Nathaniel,  grandson  of  sir 
Richard,  was  graduated  at  HarvardXoUege,  1659, 
chosen  assistant  1679,  under  the  old  charter,  and 
was  appointed  one  of  the  cotmcil  -of  which  Dudley^ 
was  president  in  1686.  He  refused  to  serve,  be- 
cause he  had  taken  the  oath  as  assistant.  He  was  a, 
firm  friend  to  the  old  charter,  hence  his  name  is  en- 
rolled among  those  whom  Randolph  marked  in  his 
letters,  and  who  were  called  a  faction  by  that  spy  of 
the  British  court.  We  read  also  that  in  August, 
1680,  the  deputy  governour,  Mr.  Saltonstall,  Now- 
el,  &.C.  sailed  from  Boston  with  60  soldiers  in  a  ship 
and  sloop,  to  still  the  people  at  Casco  Bay,  and  pre- 
vent Andross's  usurpation. 

Mr.  Saltonstall  was  appointed  one  of  his  majes- 
ty's council  in  the  charter  of  William  and  Maryc 
He  left  two  sons,  Nathaniel  and  Gurdon,  who  mad^ 
a  figure  in  publick  life. 

Saltonstall  Gurdon,  governour  of  Connec- 
ticut, was  the  great  grandson  of  sir  Richard  Salton- 
stall, first  assistant  of  Massachusetts,  and  son  of 
Nathaniel,  one  of  his  majesty's  council.  He  dis- 
covered  genius  and  an  excellent  mind,  and  was  sent 
to  the  seminary  where  his  father  was  graduated,  to 
complete  his  education.  He  received  the  honours 
of  Harvard  College,  1684.  Having  a  nrund  dispos- 
ed  unto  serious  things,  he  made  divinity  his  study, 

assigns  and  associates,  being  freemen,  &c.  But,  in  this  general 
court,  they  agreed  on  a  2d  form  as  follows  :  The  freemen  to 
have  the  power  of  choosing  assistants,  when  they  are  to  be  cl  cs» 
en  ;  and  the  assistants  from  among  themselves  to  choose  the  gov- 
ernor and  deputy  governour,  who  with  the  assistants  were  to  have 
the  power  of  making  laws,  and  choosing  officers  to  execute  the 
same  This  was  fully  assented  to  by  the  voice  of  the  people.  A 
list  of  freemen  amounting  to  108,  desired  to  be  made  freemen. 
Samuel  Mavericke^  Edward  Johnson,  Sec, 


416  SAL, 

became  a  very  accomplished  preacher,  and  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  church  at  ^ew  London,  1691. 
In  this  conspicuous  orb  he  shone  with  a  most  en- 
gaging lustre.  He  did  good  to  the  souls  of  men, 
and  was  frequently  consulted  by  the  magistrates  of 
Connecticut  upon  their  most  important  affairs.  He 
was  an  oracle  of  wisdom  to  literary  men  of  all  pro- 
fessions. Upon  the  death  of  Fitz  John  Winthrop, 
esq.  in  1707,  Mr.  Saltonstall  was  elected  gover- 
nour  of  the  state.  So  great  was  the  respect  of  the 
people  for  him,  "•  that  the  assembly  repealed  the  law 
which  required  that  the  governour  should  be  chos- 
en from  among  the  magistrates  in  nomination,  and 
gave  liberty  to  the  people  to  elect  him  from  them- 
selves at  large."  A  letter  was  addressed  to  him  by 
the  assembly,  requesting  him  to  accept  the  trust  ; 
another  was  addressed  to  the  church  and  society, 
begging  them  to  give  their  consent  that  he  should 
leave  the  pastoral  office.  They  gratified  the  wish- 
es of  the  colony.  The  first  of  January,  1708,  gov. 
Sialtonstall  accepted  the  office,  and  took  the  oaths 
appointed  by  law.  He  was  elected  by  the  freemen 
the  succeeding  year.  In  1709,  chosen  agent  to  the 
court  of  Great  Britain  to  present  an  address  to  his 
majesty,  *'  praying  for  an  armament  to  reduce  the 
French  in  N.  America  to  her  majesty's  obedience," 
&c.  The  governour  did  not  accept  of  the  appoint- 
ment. The  assistance  was  granted,  and  several  ex- 
peditions carried  on  against  Port  Royal  and  Cana- 
da, as  we  read  in  the  chronicles  of  those  years. 
Gov.  Saltonstall  was  continued  in  office  as  long  as  he 
lived,  maintained  the  dignity  of  his  station,  and  was 
accepted  by  the  multitude  of  his  brethren.  He  di- 
ed, Sept.  20,  1724,  aged  59,  leaving  a  widow,  who 
has  been  celebrated  in  New  England  for  her  fine 
accomplishments,  and  munificence  to  literary  and 
pious  societies,  and  her  charity  to  the  poor.*  The 
governour  is  also  reckoned  among  the  benefactors 
of  Harvard  College. 

♦  The  character  of  Madame  Saltonstall,  in  the  New  England 


SEW  417 

Sewall  Samuel,  chief  justice  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  was  the  son  of  Henry  Sewall  who  came 
into  this  country  in  1634,  and  made  a  plantation  in 
Newbury.  His  father  soon  followed,  whose  name 
was  also  Henry  :  he  was  the  son  of  Henry  Sewall, 
esq.  a  linen  draper  of  Coventry  in  Great  Britain. 
That  gentleman  possessed  an  ample  fortune,  and 
was  mayor  of  the  city.    The  father  of  Judge  Sewall 

joui-naljan.  26,  1729,30, 1  suj>pose  to  be  drawn  by  Mr.  Prince  :  It 
carries  intrinsic  marksof  his  pen  ;  and  the  lady  attended  his  minis- 
try. She  descended  tVom  the  rev.  William  Whittin^ham.  a  fa- 
mous puritan,  who,  in  the  reign  of  queen  Mary  I.  left  an  estate 
in  England  worth  11 00  a  year  sterling,  and  fled  to  Geneva  to 
preserve  his  conscience  and  religion.  There  he  gathered  a 
church  in  the  congregational  way,  which  seems  to  be  the  first 
instance  of  it  in  these  latter  ages,  and  was  chosen  their  pastor. 
Upon  queen  Elizabeth's  accession,  he  returned  to  En^j^land,  and 
was  created  dean  of  Durham,  and  assisted  Mr.  Sterivhold  in  the 
old  England  version  of  the  psalms  of  David,  being  the  author  of 
those  composures  prefixed  with  W.  W.  and  compiled  such  a  trea- 
tise against  the  ecclesiastical  constitutions,  as  the  learned  Mr. 
Lee  used  to  say  never  was,  and  never  could  be  answered  His 
estate  chiefly  lay  at  Southerton  about  6  miles  south  of  Boston  in 
Lincolnshire.  His  only  son  Baruch  was  the  principal  builder  of 
the  church  there,  having  his  name  distinguished  in  almost  every 
window,  to  be  se«n  many  years  after.  He  designed  to  visit  New 
England,  but  was  taken  sick  and  died.  His  widow  came  over  and 
had  a  son,  vvl>o  was  the  heir  of  the  fannily,  named  John.  He  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  the  rev.  William  Hubbard  of  Ipswich,  and 
lived  and  died  in  the  town.  He  left  three  sons,  John  and  Rich- 
ard, who  went  to  England,  and  died  there  unmarried.  T\ie  third 
son  was  named  William,  and  he  v/as  the  father  of  Madame  Sal- 
tonstall.  He  took  his  degree  at  Harvard  College,  1660,  and  set- 
tled at  Boston,  married  a  daughter  of  John  Lawrence,  (formerly 
of  Ipswich,  afterwards  alderman  of  the  city  of  New  York)  applied 
himself  to  mei'chandize,  and  going  over  to  London,  to  take  care 
of  the  estate  falling  to  him,  died  of  the  small  pox.  He  left  five 
children,  1.  Richard,  who  took  his  degree  at  Harvard  College  in 
1689.  2.  William,  a  merchant,  who  went  to  the  West  Indies, 
and  died.  3,  Mary,  Mrs.  Salstonstall.  4.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  the 
hon.  S.  Appleton  of  Ipswich.  5.  Martha,  married  to  rev.  John 
Rogers  of  the  same  town.  Mary,  now  deceased,  first  married 
William  Clark,  esq.  merchant  of  Boston,  in  1683.  He  died  in 
1710.  She  was  then  married  to  gov.  Saltonsiall,  and  upon  his 
death  returned  to  Boston.  As  for  her  cliaracter,  she  was  univer- 
sally knowQ  to  be  a  gentlewoman  of  bright  intellectual  powers, 
and  to  have  made  a  good  improvement  of  them.     Fullofspiriti 

3    F 


41S  t'  SEW 

married  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Stephen  Dummer. 
They  were  members  of  the  first  church  in  Newbu- 
ry, where  Messrs.  Parker  and  Noyes  officiated.  Mr. 
Dummer  being  in  a  poor  state  of  health,  they  aH 
returned  to  England.  They  dwelt  at  Warwick,  and 
then  removed  to  Bishop  Stoke,  in  Hampshire.  In 
this  place  Mr.  Sewall  lived  some  time.  His  eldest 
son  Samuel  was  born,  March  28, 1652,  and  was  bap- 
tised the  Sunday  following  in  Stoke  church,  by  Mr. 
Rashly,  who  was  once  a  member  of  the  old  church 
in  Boston  ;  then  went  to  England  ;  was  one  of  the 
subscribers  to  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  1648,  with 
the  London  ministers,  and  ejected  by  the  Bartholo- 
mew act,  in  1662. 

In  the  year  1661,  Mr.  Sewall  returned  to  New 
England,  with  his  family.  The  subject  of  this  arti- 
cle was  9  years  old.  He  was  sent  to  the  school  of 
Mr.  Parker,  and  made  great  proficiency  for  one  of 
his  age.  He  was  admitted  a  student  of  Harvard 
College,  in  August,  1667,  and  received  his  first  de- 
gree from  the  hands  of  president  Chauncy  ;  the  de- 
gree of  master  of  arts  he  received,  from  president 
Hoar,  in  1674.  He  was  fellow  of  Harvard  College 
a  number  of  years,  and  his  name  is  recorded  with 
the  benefactors  of  that  seminary.  In  1684,  his 
name  is  among  the  magistrates  of  the  colony.  For 
several  years  succeeding,  all  was  confusion  and  dis- 
order in  Massachusetts.      Mr.  S.  went  to  England 

lYkuch  inclined  to  leading,  and  the  most  instructive  company.  At 
the  head  of  the  neighbouring  colony,  she  shone  in  every  accom- 
plishment and  virtue  that  became  her  exalted  station.  And  wher- 
ever she  went,  she  was  admired  for  her  superiour  knowledge,  wk, 
good  sense  and  wisdom.  Above  all  was  adorned  with  exemplary 
piety.  Before  gov.  S.  died,  she  gave  100  pounds  a  piece  to  the 
two  New  England  Colleges,  and  by  her  will  1000  pounds  more  t« 
this  at  Cambridge,  to  be  appropriated  to  two  students  of  bright 
parts,  sober  lives,  designed  for  the  ministry.  She  has  also  left  a 
verv  large  silver  bason  to  the  south  church  in  Boston,  of  which 
she  had  been  a  long  while  a  great  ornament ;  ten  pounds  to  each 
pastor,  and  a  hundred  pounds  to  the  poor  of  the  town,  besides  sev- 
eral other  noble  bequeathrnents  and  legacies  to  others  ;  and  her 
v%jll  was  sUl  written  by  her  own  hand. 


SEW  419 

ill  1688,  the  year  of  the  gloripus  revolution.  He 
very  soon  returned  to  America.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  counsellors  after  the  charter  of  William  and 
Mary,  and  continued  to  be  chosen  till  1728,  when 
he  resi,^ed,  having  outlived  all  who  were  first  ap- 
pointed with  himself.  In  1692,  he  was  appointed 
judge  of  the  superit)ur  court,  and,  in  1718,  promot* 
ed  to  the  place  of  chief  justice.  He  i'esigi"ied  his  seat 
upon  the  bench  in  1728,  and  also  his  office  as  judge 
of  probate,  to  which  he  was  appointed  in  1715.  His 
character  is  delineated  by  Mr.  Prince  in  a  funeral 
sermon,  who  says,  that  *'  he  >vas  universally  reverenc- 
ed and  esteemed  and  beloved  for  his  eminent  pie- 
ty, learning  and  wisdom ;  and  that  he  was  one  of 
the  most  shining  lights  and  honours  of  the  age  and 
land  where  he  lived,  and  worthy  of  a  very  distin- 
guishiiig  regard  in  the  New  England  histories," 

He  printed  a  work  which  has  been  much  read  in 
this  country,  though  now  the  copies  are  scarce : 
**  Some  outlines  towards  a  description  of  the  new 
heavens  and  new  earth,"  4t<5.  A  2d  edition  of 
which  was  printed  in  1727. 

Sewall  Stephen,  brother  of  judge  Sewall  was 
one  of  the  worthies  of  that  generaticMi.  He  was 
universally  respected  by  his  acquaintance  for  his 
excellent  generous  temper,  and  obliging  manners  ; 
^nd  by  all  his  fellow  citizens  for  his  prudence, 
knowledge  and  patriotism.  He  had  a  good  school 
education,  and  entered  college  ;  but  was  unable  to 
stay  the  years  necessary  for  obtaining  a  degree.  He 
always  indulged  an  attachment  to  this  seat  of  the 
muses,  and  mingled  with  the  friends  of  virtue  and 
literature.  The  ministers  of  religion  lost  a  very 
particular  friend  when  he  bid  adieu  to  these  earthly- 
mansions.  While  he  lived,  he  was  useful,  as  well 
as  amiable.  He  was  employed  in  several  publick 
offices,  in  the  county  of  Essex.  He  was  clerk  of 
the  court,  and  register  ot  the  county,  which  places 
he  filled  with  the  approbation  of  all  his  constituents. 
In  1682.,  he  married  the  daughter  of  the  rev.  Mr* 


420  SEW 

Mitchel  of  Cambridge,  and  they  were  blessed  with 
17  children  ;  the  larger  number  of  these  survived 
their  parents.  The  good  man  died  in  Salem,  Octo- 
ber, 1725,  and  was  buried  the  2 1st  day  of  this 
month  with  peculiar  honours.  The  guns  of  the 
fort  of  which  he  was  commander  were  discharged  ; 
also  many  through  the  town,  by  order  of  col.  Brown, 
who  then  commanded  the  Essex  regiment.  A  great 
concourse  of  people,  with  the  magistrates  and  min- 
isters  of  the  neighbouring  towns  attended,  and  every 
mark  of  esteem  and  regard  was  manifested;  for  all 
that  knew  him,  lamented  his  death. 

Sewall  Stephen,  son  of  Stephen  Sewall,  esq. 
was  born  in  Salem,  in  December,  1702.  He  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1721,  and  then 
took  the  charge  of  a  school  at  Marblehead.  The 
office  of  a  grammar  master  ought  to  be  account- 
ed honourable.  It  is  the  most  useful  employ- 
ment, and  some  of  the  greatest  men  in  this  coun- 
try have  thus  begun  their  publick  course,  Mr, 
Sewall  was  chosen  tutor  in  1628,  and  continued  in 
that  office  till  the  year  1739,  when  he  was  elevated 
to  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  judges.  His  character  was 
very  eminent  as  a  scholar.  Dr.  Chauncy,  who  was 
his  classmate, and  whose  judgment  none  will  dispute, 
speaks  of  him,  as  a  man  of  first  rate  talents.  "Quick- 
ness of  apprehension,"  says  he,  *'  and  a  capacity  to 
look  thoroughly  into  a  subject,  were  united  to  him  in 
the  highest  degree  I  ever  saw  in  any  of  my  acquain- 
tance. One  could  scarcely  begin  to  mention  a  train 
P^  of  thought,  but  he  would  at  once  perceive  the  whole 
of  what  was  going  to  be  said  ;  and  if  it  was  a  dis- 
putable point,  had  in  readiness  what  was  proper  to 
be  said  in  answer."  He  studied  divinity,  and  was 
an  excellent  preacher,  but  did  not  incline  to  settle 
in  the  ministry.  Having  turned  his  attention  to 
law,  his  wisdom  and  knowledge  were  so  conspicu- 
ous, that  he  was  recommended  by  the  first  gentle- 
men of  the  profession,  as  the  most  proper  person  for 
a  vacant  place  of  the  superiour  court*     Judge  Dud- 


SEW  421 

ley  was  then  chief  justice  ;  and,  upon  his  death,  he 
was  appointed  his  successor,  though  he  was  not  the 
senior  of  the  surviving  judges.  His  reputation  was 
high  when  he  first  went  upon  the  bench,  but  in  this 
superiour  station  he  gained  more  applause.  *'  He 
preserved  a  great  decorum  in  the  court.  He  mod- 
erated the  debates  with  a  becoming  calmness  and 
dignity,  in  conjunction  with  a  strict  impartiality  ; 
shewing  himself  at  once  the  man  of  honour  and  spir- 
it, the  knowing  lawyer,  and  upright  judge."* 

This  great  and  good  man  was  taken  off  in  the 
midst  of  his  usefulness.  The  powers  of  his  mind 
were  in  full  vigour  ;  as  a  judge,  he  was  held  in  ad- 
miraticm,  and  one  of  the  most  learned  and  useful 
members  of  his  majesty's  council.  To  this  office 
he  was  elected  when  he  was  chief  justice.  He 
would  have  been  chosen  some  years  before,  but 
could  not  be  persuaded  to  accept  the  place.  He 
departed  this  life,  Sept.  10,  1760,  aged  58. 

No  one's  death  ever  excited  a  more  general  sym- 
pathy. He  was  as  much  beloved  for  his  good  qual- 
ities, as  admired  for  his  superiour  wisdom.  His 
polite  and  elegant  manners  gave  a  charm  to  the 
virtues  of  his  life.  It  was  remembered,  likewise, 
how  much  he  had  dispersed  and  given  to  the  poor  ! 
He  was  so  kind  to  his  relations  and  friends,  and  all 
who  applied  to  him  for  help,  •'  that  he  outdid  his 
proper  capacity."  Two  orphan  children  of  his 
brother,  Mitchel  Sewall,  esq.  were  under  his  imme- 
diate care.f  It  was  his  intention  to  give  them  eve- 
ry advantage  of  education.  The  loss  to  them  was 
irreparable. 

Judge  Sewall  died  a  bachelor.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Dr.  Mayhew's  church.  The  Dr.  printed 
the  sermon  he  preached  after  his  death,  which  may 
appear  too  much  in  the  strain  of  eulogy  ;  but  he  o]>» 

*  Dr.  Mayhew's  funeral  sermon, 
t  One  of  these  was  the  late  Mitcliel  Sewall,  esq.   of  Ports- 
mouth, who  once  made  a  figare  at  the  bar^  and  v/as  celebrated  as 
a  poet. 


422  S  E  W 

serves,  Uiat  the  memory  of  wise  and  just  men  ought 
to  be  praised  with  all  ardour  of  expression.  *'  It 
seems  but  just  and  equitable,"  the  Dr.  adds,  *'  that 
he^  who  never  spoke  evil  of  any  one,  but  honoured 
^11  men,  and  delighted  to  give  all  their  due  share  of 
praise,  should,  at  least,  when  he  is  dead  and  gone, 
be  praised  by  all  in  his  turn  ;  and  so  much  the  ra- 
ther because  he  would  not  willingly  suffer  any  to 
commend  him  while  living,  which  was  the  truth 
concerning  this  excellent  person." 

Sewall  Joseph,  D.  D.  was  the  son  of  thehon. 
Samuel  Sewall,  esq.  chief  justice  of  the  province* 
He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1707,  and 
was  ordained  as  colleague  with  the  rev.  Mr.  Pern* 
berton,  pastor  of  die  old  south  church,  Sept.  16, 
1713.  For  many  years  he  continued  to  preach  to 
this  people,  who  were  edified,  instructed  and  com- 
forted  by  his  labours.  He  was  a  man  who  seemed 
to  breathe  the  air  of  heaven,  while  he  was  here  upon 
tarth ;  he  delighted  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  ; 
and  when  he  grew  venerable  for  his  age,  as  well  as 
his  piety,  he  was  regarded  as  the  father  of  the  cler- 
gy. The  rising  generation  looked  upon  him  with  rev- 
erence, and  all  classes  of  people  felt  a  respect  for 
his  name.  He  was  a  genuine  discipk  of  the  fa- 
mous John  Calvin.  He  dwelt  upon  the  great  arti- 
cles of  the  christian  faith  in  preaching  and  conver- 
sation  ;  and  dreaded  the  propagation  of  any  opin- 
ions in  this  country,  which  were  contrary  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  our  fathers.  Hence  he  was  no  friend  to 
free  inquiries,  or  to  any  discussion  of  theological 
opinions,  which  were  held  true  by  the  first  reform- 
ers. His  advice  to  students  in  divinity  was,  to 
read  the  Bible  always  with  a  comment,  such  as  Mr, 
Henry's,  or  archbishop  Usher's,  and  to  make  them- 
selves acquainted  with  the  work  of  his  great  prede- 
cessor,  Mr.  Willard,  whose  body  of  divinity  was 
then  in  great  repute.  Though  he  so  often  preach- 
ed  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  yet  he  never  entered 
mto  any  curious  speculations ;  his  object  was  t© 


SEW  423 

impress  upon  people  what  they  should  believe,  and  ^i 

how  they  must  live  to  be  eternally  happy.  His  ser- 
mons were  pathetick,  and  the  pious  strains  of  his 
prayers,  as  well  as  preaching,  excited  serious  atten- 
tion, and  made  a  devout  assembly.  His  character 
was  uniform,  and  the  observation  has  often  been 
made,  if  he  entered  into  company  something  seri- 
ous or  good  dropt  from  his  lips.  **  His  very  pres- 
ence banished  away  every  thing  of  levity,  and  sol- 
emnized the  minds  of  all  those  who  were  with  him," 
He  received  the  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity  from 
the  university  of  Glasgow,  in  the  year  1731  ;  and 
was  appointed  a  corresponding  member  of'*  theso» 
ciety  in  Scotland  for  promoting  christian  know- 
ledge." He  was  also  appointed  one  of  the  comr 
mis^oners,  by  the  hon.  corporation  in  London,  **  for 
the  propagation  of  the  gospel  in  New  England,  and 
parts  adjacent." 

Although  Dr.  Sewall  was  more  remarkable  for 
his  piety  than  his  learning,  yet  he  was  a  friend  to  lit- 
erature, and  endeavoured  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote the  interest  and  reputation  of  the  college.  He 
was  a  very  good  classical  scholar.  He  could 
write  handsomely  in  latin  when  he  was  an  old  man, 
and  had  read  many  authors  in  that  language.  Most 
of  the  works  of  tli^f  great  divines  of  the  preceding 
century  were  written  in  latin,  as  it  was  a  kind  of 
universal  language  among  the  literati  of  Europe. 
In  the  year  1724,  upon  the  decease  of  Mr.  Lever- 
et, Dr.  Sewall  was  chosen  to  succeed  him  as  pres- 
ident of  Harvard  College,  which  honourable  station 
he  did  not  see  fit  to  accept.  In  1728,  upon  Dr. 
Colman's  resignation,  he  was  chosen  a  fellow  of  the 
corporation,  and  he  faithfully  discharged  the  duties 
of  this  office,  till  the  year  1765. 

His  donation  to  the  college  of  money  to  be  ap- 
propriated to  indigent  scholars,  has  been  of  consid- 
erable use.  He  gave  this  during  his  life,  and  was 
among  the  first  to  repair  the  loss  of  the  library, 
^hen  Harvard  Hall  was  consumed  by  fire,  by  mak- 


424  SHE 

ing  a  present  of  many  valuable  books.  This  devout 
man  also  gave  much  alms  to  the  people.  He  pos- 
sessed an  estate  beyond  any  of  his  brethren  ;  but 
he  always  devoted  a  tenth  part  of  his  income  to  pi- 
lous and  charitable  uses. 

It  pleased  the  Lord  of  life  to  bless  him  wj^h 
health,  as  well  as  other  means  of  enjoyment.  He 
lived  to  a  good  old  age  ;  and  preached  to  his  people 
the  evening  he  had  arrived  at  fourscore  years.  The 
next  Sabbath  he  was  seized  with  a  paralytical  com- 
plaint, which  confined  him  some  months,  and  he  di- 
ed, June  27th,  1769,  in  the  8lst  year  of  his  age. 

The  Dr.  published  a  number  of  funeral  sermons. 
One  on  the  death  of  Wait  Winthrop,  esq.  1717  ; 
king  George  1st,  1727 ;  on  pres.  Wadsworth, 
1737;  on  sec'y.  Willard,  1756.  He  printed  like- 
wise the  election  sermon,  1724  ;  and  a  discourse 
on  Rev.  v.  11,  12,  1745. 

Sharpe  Thomas,  one  of  the  first  planters,  was 
chosen  assistant,  Oct.  20,  1629,  and  is  the  sixth 
member  who  joined  in  forming  the  congregational 
church  of  Boston  and  Charlestown.  He  could  not 
reside  long  in  New  England,  as  we  do  not  find  his 
name  among  the  assistants,  who  held  their  court 
in  Boston,  October,  in  the  year  1630.  He  was 
present  at  the  first  court  held  on  board  the  brig  Ar- 
abella, August  23,  when  the  question  was  decided 
how  the  minister  should  be  maintained  ?  And  also 
the  second  court,  held  at  Charlestown,  Sept.  7th* 

Shepard  Thomas,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Cambridge,  New  England,  was  educated  at  Eman- 
uel College,  university  of  Cambridge,  Great  Brit- 
ain, and  was  one  of  the  nonconforming  ministers  who 
were  silenced  by  the  arbitrary  measures  of  arch- 
bishop Laud.  He  came  over  to  New  England  in 
1635  ;  and  succeeded  Mr.  Hooker,  who  exchang- 
ed his  place  of  abode  from  Newton  as  it  was  then 
called,  to  Hartford,  a  settlement  upon  Connecticut 
river. 

Mr.  S.  died  in  1649.  in  the  44th  year  of  his  age. 


SHE  425 

He  was  a  pattern  of  piety,  industry  aird  evangelical 
preaching.  He  was  esteemed  by  his  colempora- 
ries  among  the  firs^  divines  in  New  England,  and 
his  works  are  now  read  with  sacred  delight  by  ma- 
ny serious  people.  His  publications  were  both 
doctrinal  and  practical,  His  treatise  upon  **  the  mo- 
rality of  the  sabbath"  is  very  learned  and  judicious. 
It  is  a  rare  book,  but  still  preserved  in  some  libra- 
ries ;  he  also  wrote  a  book  upon  ''  the  matter  of 
the  visible  church,"  and  another  upon  "  the  church 
membership  of  little  children."  He  printed,  be- 
sides these,  a  letter  under  the  title  of  '*  New  Eng- 
land-s  lamentation  for  Old  England's  errors."  His 
practical  treatises  are  a  sermon  **  upon  drunken- 
ness ;"  a  sermon  on  "  subjection  to  Christ ;"  on 
*'  ineffectual  hearing  of  the  word."  *'  The  sincere 
convert,"  a  larger  treatise,  which  passed  through 
four  editions  in  L^ondon  ;  "the  sound  believer,"  a 
book  often  printed  in  America,  to  these  we  add,  an 
explanation  of  V*  the  parable  of  the  ten  virgins,'? 
which  work  he  prepared,  and  it  was  printed  after 
his  death.  The  great  president  Edwards  makes 
free  use  of  this  book  in  his  *'  treatise  on  the  affec- 
tions." 

Shepard  Thomas,  minister  of  the  church  in 
Charlestown,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Shepard  of 
Cambridge,  was  graduated  1653,  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege, was  a  fellow  of  the  college,  and  died  Dec.  22, 
1677,  of  the  small  pojc,  etat.  43. 

To  give  posterity  the  knowledge  of  him  Dr. 
Mather  brings  the  engravings  on  his  tomb- stone, 
also  the  testimony  of  president  Oakes  who  delivered 
an  elegant  latiji  oration  the  ensuing  commencement, 
in  which  he  says,  Amisimus,  Amisimus,  memorat- 
isimum  ilium  virum,  reverendissimum  Thomam 
Shepardam  :  respublica  civem  optimum,  Ecclesia, 
theologum  clarissimum,  academja  non  filium  tan- 
tum,  et  alumnum  charissimum,  sed  curatoren> 
etiam  vigilantissimum  ;  municipium  scholasticum? 
§ocium  suum  primarium,  amiscrunt." 
3  G 


426  SHE 

The  third  testimony  of  his  fame,  is  hk  own  c-, 
kction  sermon,  1672,  where  the  reader  will  see  so 
much  wisdom,  learning,  and  faithfulness  *'  constel- 
lated," that  he  will  pronounce  the  autbpr  to  be  a 
man  of  first  rate  talents. 

Shepard  Samuel,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Rowley,  was  the  second  son  of  Mr.  S.  of  Cam- 
bridge. He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
1658,  ordained  about  1662,  and  died  1668,  etat  27, 

The  celebrated  Mr.  Mitchell  wrote  his  character 
m  these  words.  He  was  a  precious,  holy,  meditat- 
ing, able,  choice  young  man.  On^  of  the  first  three ^ 
He  was  an  excellent  preacher,  most  dearly  belov- 
ed at  Rowley.  The  people  would  have  plucked  out 
their  eyes  to  have  saved  his  life.  But  he  was  ripe 
for  heaven,  and  God  took  him  thither." 

Shepardi  JfiREMiAH,  pastor  of  the  church  at 
LynUj  was  the  third  son  of  Mr.  S.  of  Cambridge. 
He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1669,  and 
ordained  in  1679.  He  lived  to  be  much  older  than 
his  brothers  :  was  a  minister  at  Lynn,  41  years,  and 
died  June  2,  1720,  etat.  72.  The  three  brothers 
are  recorded  in  the  Magnalia,  as  three  excellent 
ministers,  which  the  author  thinks  to  be  sometliing 
better  ''  than  to  have  three  orators  like  the  Curii  at 
Rome." 

Shepard  Thomas,  the  only  son  of  Mr.  Shep- 
ard of  Charlestown,  and  his  successor  in  the  minis- 
try, was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1676.  I'hc 
people  of  Charlestown  invited  him  to  the  place  of 
his  father,  as  he  resembled  him  in  all  his  virtues, 
•*  nullum  unquam  monumentum  clarius,  relinque- 
re  potuit,  quam  effigiem,  morum  suarum,  virtutis, 
constantiac,  pietatis  ingenii  filium."  These  lines 
which  Tully  writes  concerning  S.  Sulpicius,  have 
been  applied  to  Mr.  Shepard  of  Charlestown.  The 
last  of  the  three  died  younger  than  his  father  or 
grandfather.  They  died  when  they  were  turned  of 
4»0.  This  excellent  young  man,  died  when  he  was 
only  in  the  27th  year  of  bis  age.     He  seemed  Xo 


SHE  427 

4iave  some  premonition  of  his  dissolution,  and 
preached  15  sermons  on  Eccles.  xii.  5.  "  Man 
goeth  to  his  long  home."  He  did  not  publish  any 
of  his  writings,  but  he  left  for  the  benefit  of  others 
the  perfume  of  his  name,  and  the  lustre  ©f  his  ex- 
ample. 

Sherman  John,  a  great  divine  and  eminen-t 
mathematician,  was  born  at  Dedham,  Dec.  26, 
1613,  and  received  his  first  impressions  of  religion 
under  the  ministry  of  the  famous  John  Rogers.  At 
school  he  discovered  uncommon  industry  and  in- 
genuity, and  at  an  early  age  went  to  the  university 
of  Cambridge  He  did  not  receive  his  degree,  be- 
cause he  could  not  subscribe  the  articles  required, 
ipreferring  the  name  of  puritan  to  tlxe  literary  hon- 
ours he  might  have  by  conforming  to  the  church  of 
England.  He  came  to  America  in  the  year  1634, 
and  preached  his  tirst  sermon  at  Watertown,  as  an 
assistant  to  Mr^  Piiillips.  Having  continued  some 
time  with  this  people,  he  then  removed  to  New 
Haven,  and  preached  occasionally  as  he  was  invited 
by  people  in  their  several  towns.  Mr.  Hooker  and 
Mr.  Stone  once  declared  in  an  assembly  of  divines, 
«'  Brethren,  we  must  take  heed  to  ourselves  and  our 
ministry,  or  this  young  man  will  outdo  us  al}."  He 
declined  settling  at  Milford  where  he  had  a  call,  and 
went  into  civil  life.  For  some  time  he  was  a  mag- 
istrate of  the  colony.  He  was  persuaded,  however, 
to  put  off  his  robes  of  office,  when  the  people  of 
Watertown,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Phillips,  gave 
him  an  invitation  to  be  his  successor.  At  the  same 
time  one  of  the  Boston  churches  expressed  a  desire 
that  he  would  settle  with  them,  and  he  received  a 
letter  from  London  making  a  similar  request.  He 
accepted  the  call  from  Watertown,  and  for  many 
years  they  rejoiced  in  his  light.  He  was  also  a  great 
blessing  to  the  college.  He  was  chosen  fellow  of 
the  corporation,  and  delivered  lectures  which  most 
of  the  students  attended.  Being  a  first  rate  scholar, 
an  accomplished  preacher,  they  were  willing  once  a 


il2a  SHE 

fortnight  to  Walk  a  few  miles  to  hear  him.  Fbr 
30  years  he  continued  these  lectures  and  drew  ma- 
riy  hearers  from  other  towns  in  the  vicinity.  He 
improved  his  great  intellectual  nihilities  by  a  close 
attention  to  his  studies.  Dr.  Mather  says  he  was 
undoubtedly  "  one  of  the  greatest  mathematicians 
that  ever  lived  in  this  hemisphere  of  the  world." 
He  left  many  astronomical  calculations  in  mss.  For 
some  years  he  published  an  almanack,  and  always 
added  pious  reflections.  This  is  one  of  them. 
*•  Let  me  entreat  one  thing  of  thee  and  I  will  adven- 
ture to  promise  thee  a  good  year  :  the  request  is  in 
itseli"  reasonable^  and  may  be  to  thee  eternally  profi- 
table Its  only  this  :  duly  to  prize,  and  diligently 
improve  time,  for  obtaining  the  blessed  end  it  was 
give  n  for,  avid  is  yet  graciously  continued  to  thee, 
by  the  eternal  God.  Of  365  days,  allowed  by  the 
making  up  of  this  year,  which  shall  be  thy  last,  thou 
knowest  not ;  but  that  any  of  them  may  be  it,  then 
oughtefet  ihou  to  know,  and  so  consider,  that  thou 
may  est  pass  the  time  of  thy  sojourning  here  with 
fear." 

Mr.  Sherman  married  twice,  and  had  26  children, 
twenty  by  the  last,  she  lived  his  widow  some  years. 
The  last  sermon  he  preached  was  at  Sudbury — He 
was  there  taken  sick  and  died  at  Watertown,  Aug, 
8,  16ii5,  aged  72.     Mognalia, 

Sherman  Roger,  was  born  at  Newtown^ 
April  19,  1721.  His  first  ancestor  in  thi^  country 
was  John  Sherman,  who  came  from  Dedham  in  En- 
glandv  and  settled  at  Watertown,  1635.  HisJ  so  A 
John  was  the  lather  of  William,  who  was  the  father 
of  the  gentleman,  the  present  subject  of  our  notice. 
R.  Sherman  removed  from  Massachusetts  to  Mil- 
ford,  Connecticut,  about  the  year  1741.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  as  a  counsellor  of  law  in  1754, 
and  made  a  figure  in  his  profession,  though  he  had 
never  been  bred  to  the  law,  or  had  the  advantages 
of  an  academical  education.  The  resources  of  hi^ 
own  mind  were  very  great,  and  he  pursued  kis  stw^ 


iSHt  42^ 

dies  with  wonderful  diligence.  He  tvas  a  repre- 
sentative for  the  town  of  New  Milford,  and  after- 
wards of  New  Haven.  In  1765,  he  was  appointed 
a  justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  He  receiv- 
ed an  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Yale  College, 
and  was  treasurer  of  the  college  many  years.  In 
1776,  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  on  the  supreme 
bench,  and  elected  one  of  the  assistants  of  the  colo- 
ny. When  the  law  was  enacted  making  these  offi- 
ces inconsistent,  he  resigned  his  place,  as  counsel- 
lor or  asssistant  and  continued  on  the  bench  of 
judges.  He  was  the  same  year  present  in  congress, 
and  signed  the  glorious  act  of  indepcHdence.  He 
not  only  was  delegate  but  one  of  the  committee 
which  drew  up  the  declaration.  In  1787,  he  was 
appointed  a  delegate  to  the  convention  which  form- 
ed the  federal  constitution  ;  and  afterwards  in  the 
state  convention  which  adopted  it.  He  was  then 
elected  a  representative  to  the  first  congress  under 
the  new  constitution,  and  when  a  vacancy  for  Con- 
necticut happened  in  the  United  States  senate,  he 
was  elected  to  fill  it,  and  in  this  office  he  continued 
till  his  death  which  took  place  at  New  Haven,  July 
20,   1795. 

Shirley  William,  governour  of  Massachu- 
setts from  1740  to  1757,  was  an  English  gen- 
tleman who  practised  law,  in  Boston.  At  the  time 
he  was  appointed,  his  lady  was  in  England.  She 
had  been  soliciting  a  post  of  profit  for  Mr.  S.  in  the 
province,  and  by  the  assistance  of  her  own  friends, 
^nd  the  intrigues  of  Belcher's  enemies,  obtained  the 
government.  He  was  a  man  of  address,  knew  how 
to  manage  the  several  parties,  and  conducted  so  well 
as  to  gain  the  affection  of  the  people,  and  continue 
on  the  side  of  the  prerogative. 

The  court  did  more  for  him  than  they  were  will- 
ing to  do  for  any  of  his  prc^decessors  ;  for  they  ad- 
vanced the  governour's  salary  to  1000  pounds  ster- 
ling per  annum. 

The  principal  events  in  his  administration  were 


430  S  H  1 

these.  In  1745,  the  expedition  t^  Louisburg.  Of 
this  he  was  not  the  projector,  nor  as  some  have 
supposed,  even  an  adviser,  though  after  the  suc- 
cess of  it,  he  was  desirous  of  being  considered 
as  the  main  spring  of  the  whole  business.  Mr, 
Auchmuty  laid  the  plan  in  his  study,  says  Smol- 
iet.  Neither  Hutcihinson,  nor  Belknap  mention 
Auchmuty's  name.  The  plan  is  given  by  Vaughan, 
and  pressed  upon  Shirley,  who  was  gratified  with 
the  enterprise,  but  was  afraid  to  be  responsible, 
and  therefore  contrived  to  have  the  general  court 
patronise  it  ;  so  that  if  it  had  not  succeeded,  he 
should  be  free  from  blame.  Hence  he  always  spake 
*'  your  expedition  gentlemen" — till  the  capture^ 
and  then  it  was  *'  our  expedition.'' 

The  year  succeeding  the  capture  of  Cape  Breton, 
the  famous  expedition  against  the  colonies  was 
frustrated.  The  duke  d'Anville^s  fleet  was  com- 
pletely destroyed. 

A  body  of  provincials  station^  at  Minas,  was 
surprised  by  a  party  of  French  and  Indians,  and  the 
■whole  number,  amounting  to  about  160,  slain  or 
made  pr'isOners.  In  1747,  an  uncommon  tumult 
happened  at  Boston,  in  which  the  governour  was 
accidentally  involved.  Commodore  Knowles  im- 
pressed a  number  of  men  from  the  vessels  and 
•wharves.  The  governour's  house  was  surrounded 
by  the  enraged  multitude,  and  he  fled  to  the  castle, 
which  was  considered  by  many,  the  high  sons  of 
liberty,  as  an  abdication  of  the  government.  In 
1749,  an  act  was  passed  calling  in  the  bills  of  cred* 
it,  and  exchanging  them  for  silver,  and  the  province 
was  enabled  to  do  it,  by  the  reimbursement  for 
the  Louisburg  expedition. 

In  1754,  the  governour  refusing  his  assent  to  the 
excise  bill  J  became  very  popular.  It  is  to  be  reckoned 
among  the  strange  events  of  our  political  assembly, 
that  the  excise  bill,  so  unfriendly  to  the  liberties  of 
the  people,  was  supported  in  the  house  by  men  who 
had  been  whigs  hitherto.     And  that  it  met  its  death 


SHU  431 

blow  by  those  who  have  ever  been  styled  the  tory 
administration.  Hutchinson  opposed  it.  Shirley 
negatived  it.  From  this  period  the  goveri^our  left 
the  management  of  civil  affairs,  for  which  he  was 
very  capable,  for  the  military  department  which  he 
knew  very  little  about.  Upor\  the  cpnquest  of  Lou- 
isburgh,  he  was  appointed  to  he  the  col.  of  a  regi- 
ment on  the  British  establishment  to  be  raised  in 
America.  Afterwards  he  had  a  higher  military 
command,  and  went  to  dispossess  the  French  of  Nia- 
gara in  which  he  was  unsuccessful. 

When  gov.  Shirley  was  in  Europe,  with  a  commis- 
sion, to  settle  an  important  business,  for  which  he 
was  supposed  to  be  qualified,  as  it  related  to  the 
French  claims  in  America,  he  there  formed  a  mat- 
rimonial connexion  with  a  lady  of  the  Catholick  re- 
ligion. This  was  disgusting  to  the  provmce,  as 
the  people  at  that  time  detested  th^  French,  and  all 
popirih  connections.  It  had  such  an  effect  upon  his 
administration,  that  he  felt  the  weight  of  the  oppo- 
sition, and  soon  lost  his  place.  He  was  superced- 
ed in  his  government  by  Thomas  Pownal,  esq, 
without  losing  the  favour  of  the  crown.  He 
afterwards  received  an  appointment  as  govern- 
our  of  the  Bahama  Islands.  In  1770  he,  return- 
ed to  Boston,  and  for  the  short  space  he  lived 
he  resided  in  his  house  at  Roxbury,  which  had 
been  kept  in  the  family.  It  was  indeed  a  spa- 
cious mansion,  well  situated,  and  capable  of  great 
improvement  around  it.  This  house  was  made  a 
barrack  for  our  soldiers  in  1775,  and  much  injured. 
He  died  in  April,  177}.,  a  poor  man,  but  was  hon- 
Qurably  interred. 

Shuts  Samuel,  esq.  arrived  in  Boston,  4th  of 
October,  1716,  with  his  commission,  as  governour 
of  Massachusetts.  He  had  been  colonel  of  a  Brit- 
ish regiment,  and  served  under  the  duke  of  Marl- 
borough. He  was  of  a  family  eminent  among  the 
dissenters.  A  similarity  of  religious  principles  ren,^ 
dered  him  very  agreeable  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 


432  SHU 

province,  and  they  felt  the  more  satisfied,  as  they 
had  some  reason  to  think  that  a  warm  episcopalit 
an,  and  a  man  of  arbitrary  notions,  was  to  be  put  in- 
to the  chair.  His  administration,  however,  of  a 
few  years,  was  rendered  irksome  to  himself,  and 
not  grateful  to  the  people.  This  was  owing  to  par- 
ty spirit,  or  the  peculiar  increase  of  it,  among  the 
popular  leaders  by  his  instructions  to  have  a  salary 
fixed.  These  instructions  he  adhered  to,  and  to 
these  the  friends  of  the  old  charter  were  violently 
opposed.  There  had  been  parties  ever  since  the  new 
charter.  Dudley's  adherents  had  been  styled  ene- 
mies of  charter  privileges.  But  in  Shute's  time 
there  was  another  cause  of  division  ;  they  who 
were  called  the  bank  party,  were  in  the  opposition 
to  government.  The  prudence  rather  than  the  in- 
terest of  the  governour  led  him  to  prevent  such  ac- 
cumulation of  ideal  property  in  the  hands  of  colo- 
nists ;  especially  as  it  vyas  a  serious  evil  to  the  in- 
habitants of  the  colony.  Hence  so  sedate  and  ac- 
ceptable a  man  as  Mr.  Shute  could  not  please  the 
generality,  and  his  friends  were  unable  to  resist  the 
tide  that  set  against  him.  The  discordant  sound 
was  heard  when  he  negatived  Mr,  Cooke  who  w^as 
then  considered  as  the  man  of  the  people.  The 
controversy,  which  had  been  excited,  was  managed 
with  zeal  by  the  house  of  representatives  ;  and  con» 
tinned  during  his  whole  administration.  The 
council  was  not  so  much  engaged,  and  were  often 
on  the  side  of  the  governour,  which  displeased  the 
leaders  of  the  other  house. 

The  coi>duct  of  Mr.  Shute  displeased  some  of  the 
more  precise  adherents  to  the  garb  of  religion.  He 
sometimes  indulged  himself  in  amusements  and 
parties  of  pleasure,  which  these  grave  censors  of  hu- 
man manners  supposed  incompatible  with  the  dig- 
nity of  his  station,  and  inconsistent  with  that  godli- 
ness which  should  characterise  a  christian  common- 
wealth. In  1723,  Jan.  1,  the  governour  left  Bos- 
tQn  and  sailed  for  England,  he  embarked  suddenly. 


S  K  E  433 

acquainting  only  his  particular  friends  with  his  de. 
sign. 

The  memorials  he  exhibited  after  his  arrival  caus- 
ed the  proceedings  of  the  house  of  representatives 
to  be  censured  by  the  king  and  council.  Whether 
he  was  to  be  justified  or  blamed  must  be  learned 
from  the  history  of  those  transactions  published  by 
those  of  different  opinions. 

He  had  a  pension  in  England  settled  upon  him  for 
life,  where  he  could  indulge  his  natural  love  of  ease, 
free  from  the  tumults  of  a  people  who  were  dispos- 
ed to  vex  him.  There  he  died  full  of  days,  having 
lived  to  the  age  of  fourscore  years.  His  character 
was,  in  and  out  of  the  province  of  Massachu- 
setts, when  men  were  not  engaged  in  the  violence  gf 
dispute,  a  man  of  an  open,  generous,  humane  dis- 
position, a  friend  to  liberty,  and  if  not  endued  with 
great  abilities  as  a  governour,  yet  just  and  upright 
in  his  private  affairs,  and  with  the  best  intentions  of 
regulating  the  affairs  of  his  government. 

Skelton  Samuel,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Sa- 
lem, was  a  minister  of  Lincolnshire,  Great  Britain, 
a  pious  man,  whose  abilities  and  character  were  re- 
spected by  the  puritans.  He  was  associated  with 
Mr.  Higginson  as  a  minister  of  the  new  plantation  ; 
for  we  learn  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts 
company  in  London,  April  8,  1629,  Mr.  Francis 
Higginson,  Mr.  Samuel  Skelton,  &c.  are  entertain- 
ed, and  engage  to  labour  among  the  Indians  and 
English.  Their  names  are  put  into  tbe  council, 
next  to  Mr.  Endicot's,  where  the  style  runs,  *'  gov- 
ernour and  council  of  London's  plantation."*  The 
vessels  in  which  they  sailed  arrived  at  Naumkeak 
in  the  month  of  June ;    the  20th  of  July  was  set 

*  April  10,  at  a  general  court  of"  Massachusetts  company  in 
London,  they  elected  Mr.  Endicot, governour,  Mr.  Higginson, Skel- 
ton, Bright,  JFohn  and  Samuel  Brown, Thomas  Graves,  and  Samuel 
Sharps  to  be  of  the  council.  The  governour  and  council  to  choose 
three  others  :  the  planters  two  more  ;  of  wiiich  t>velve  counsel- 
lors the  major  part  may  choose  a  depu'.y  and  secretary,  that^they 
contmue  a  year,  Sec.     Fnnc€*s  chronology , 

3    H 


134  S  K  E 

apart  for  prayer  and  fasting,  and  the  trial  and  choice 
of  a  pastor  and  teacher  ;    and  August  6,    for  the 
choice  of  elders  and  deacons.  Their  office  was  then 
defined,  the  delegates  from  Plymouth  being  present. 
Mr.  Skelton,  being  further  advanced  in  years,  was 
constituted  pastor  of  Salem  church,  Mr.  Higginson 
teacher.     The  elder  \vas  Mr.  Houghton,  who  died 
the  next  year.     Mr.  Higginson   likewise  died  be- 
fore a  year  elapsed  from  his  installation.    Mr.  Skel- 
ton was  the  particular  friend  of  Mr.  Endicot.     He 
was  the  more  regarded  by  that  gentleman,  because 
he  received  his  first  religious  impressions  under  his 
preaching.     He  was  ready  to  support  Mr.  Endicot, 
likewise  in  the  strict  discipline  which  he  thought 
necessary  for  the  churches,  and  fell  in  with  all  his. 
superstitious  notions  about  veils,    &c.       His   col- 
league, Mr.  Williams,  who  came  over  in  1631,  con- 
firmed him  in  his  prejudices  against  the  church  of 
England.      They  also  acted  in  concert  against  the 
ministers  of  the  bay,  whom  they  accused  of  seeking 
power  and  influence,   and  of  forming  themselves 
upon  the  model  of  a  presbytery,  because  they  met 
together  in  a  body  once  a  fortnight,  although  it  was 
more  for  the  enjoyment  of  social  propensities,  than 
any  religious  purposes.  There  was  a  want  of  friend- 
ship between  the  ministers  of  Boston  with  its  neigh- 
bourhood,    and   the   ministers   of  Salem.      Every 
thing  which  one  party  did,  was  found  fault  with  by 
the  other.     It  is  remarkable  that  no  kind  of  notices 
of  the  character  of  Mr.  Skelton,   a  man  so  distin- 
guished among  the  first  planters,   should  be  given 
by  the  writers  of  that,  or  the  succeeding  generation. 
Governour  Winthrop  just  mentions  his  death,  Au- 
gust 2,    1634.      Dr,  Mather  mentions   very   little 
about  him,  though  so  apt  to  introduce  the  lives  of 
men  in  his  history.     In  an  account  of  Salem  by  the 
rev.  Mr.  Bentley,   w^e  are  told  that  he  died  when 
Mr.  Endicot,   his  benefactor,  was   out  of  favour. 
"  No  particular  records  of  his  services  was  kept. 
His  opinions  made  him  no  personal  enemies  ;    but 


S  T  A  435 

sts  he  never  acted  alone,  he  yielded  to  others  all  the 
praise  of  his  best  actions." 

Standish  Miles,  first  military  officer  in  New 
Plymouth,  came  over  with  the  pilgrims  in  1620. 
He  was  a  man  brave,  enterprising,  whose  per- 
severance  was  equal  to  the  boldest  resolutions  form« 
ed  upon  the  impulse  of  the  mind.  As  success  al- 
ways attended  him,  the  first  settlers  placed  the 
greatest  confidence  in  the  man.  When  the  town 
of  Plymouth  was  fortified,  he  had  the  care  of  it 
committed  to  him,  and  with  a  very  few  men  he  was 
able  to  defend  it.  He  made  several  bold  excur- 
sions in  the  neighbourhood  of  Plymouth  in  1723, 
and  also  went  to  Mr.  Weston's  plantation  which  he 
saved  from  destruction.  He  certainly  delivered  the 
people  from  the  death  which  the  Indians  threatened, 
and  were  ready  to  execute.  He  also  went  to  Cape 
Ann  in  1624,  where  the  fishermen  of  Plymouth 
had  been  abused  by  a  company  from  the  west  of 
England.  The  captain  was  disposed  to  finish  this 
business  by  some  warlike  achievement,  but  it  was 
settled  by  men  of  more  prudence  and  moderation. 
The  particulars  of  these  expeditions  are  related  by 
Hubbard  and  Hutchinson,  and  make  part  of  an  ex- 
cellent memoir  in  ''  Belknap's  American  Biogra- 
phy." This  narrative  of  the  affair  at  Cape  Ann  is 
given  in  Hubbard's  mss.  as  follows,  *'  capt.  Stand- 
ish was  bred  a  soldier  in  the  low  countries,  and  ne- 
ver entered  into  the  school  of  Christ,  or  of  John  the 
Baptist ;  or  if  ever  he  was  there,  he  forgot  his  first 
lessons,  to  offer  violence  to  no  man,  and  to  part 
with  the  cloak,  rather  than  needlessly  contend  for 
the  coat,  though  taken  av/ay  without  order.  A  lit- 
tle chimney  is  soon  fired  ;  so  was  the  Plymouth 
captain,  a  man  of  small  stature,  yet  of  a  very  hot 
and  angry  temper.  The  fire  of  his  passion  soon 
kindled,  and  blown  up  into  a  flame  by  hot  words, 
might  easily  have  consumed  all,  had  it  not  been 
seasonably  quenched."  In  other  parts  of  his  writ- 
ing  he  speaks  of  capt.  Standish  with  more  respect. 


436  S  T  E 

He  not  only  gives  him  a  good  character  as  a  sol* 
dier,  but  says  he  performed  his  duty  well  as  a  civil 
officer.  *'  He  was  improved  to  good  acceptance," 
says  he,  and  success  in  affairs  of  the  greatest  mo- 
ment to  the  colony  ;  to  whose  interest  he  continu- 
ed firm  and  stedfast  to  the  last,  and  always  manag- 
ed  his  trust  with  great  integrity  and  faithfulness," 

In  the  year  1625,  he  went  to  England  as  agent 
for  the  colony.  He  did  every  thing  to  serve  his 
constituents,  which  a  skilful  and  prudent  man  could 
do,  but  the  plague  raged  in  London,  and  had  car- 
ried  off  40,000  persons,  and  those  who  otherwise 
w^ould  have  turned  their  eyes  to  this  infant  setde- 
ment,  were  engaged  in  more  interesting  matters, 
the  saving  themselves  as  well  as  their  property 
from  the  dangers  which  hung  over  them.  He  re- 
turned  to  Plymouth  in  1626,  with  a  small  supply 
of  goods,  which  was  of  great  advantage  to  the  poor 
pilgrims,  but  their  souls  were  filled  with  grief  by 
the  sorrowful  intelligence  which  he  brought  them 
of  the  death  of  their  pastor  Mr.  Robinson,  and  their 
faithful  Iriend  Mr   Robert  Cushman. 

Alter  this  voyage  capt.  Standish  retired  to  his 
farm,  and  lived  in  rural  tranquillity,  though  not  in 
the  shadows  of  obscurity.  He  was  magistrate  of 
the  Plymouth  colony  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  died 
a  man  full  of  years,  and  honoured  by  his  generation, 
in  1656,  at  Duxbury.  The  spot  in  that  town  which 
is  called  Captain's  hill,  belonged  to  him,  and  took 
its  name  from  this  circumstance. 

Stf.vens  Benjamin,  D.  D.  minister  of  the 
church  at  Kitiery  point,  was  the  son  of  the  rev.  Jo- 
seph Stevens,  minister  of  Charlestown,  who  had 
been  tutor  and  fellow  of  the  college  when  he  was  a 
young  man  ;  and  was  again  chosen  fellow  of  the 
corporation  17  12,  in  which  office  he  continued  till  his 
dtath  in  1722.  His  son  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1V40.  Having  lost  his  father  when  he 
was  a  child-,  he  was  deprived  of  the  advantages  of 
his  instruction,  but  was  an  object  of  thetender  con- 


S  T  E  437 

oeni  of  others,  and  his  own  exertions  and  excellent 
disposition  lessened  the  care  of  his  friends,  as  well 
as  gratified  their  fond  and  lively  expectations.     He 
was  ordained  at  Kittery  some  years  after  he  left  the 
place  of  his  education.     When  he  settled  with  this 
people,  they  were   in  fair  and  flourishing  circum- 
stances.    Several  merchants  of  large  property  re« 
sided  in  the  town  ;  navigation  was  carried  on  in  va- 
rious branches  ;    elegant  houses  were  built ;    and 
stran  rers  were  allured  to  the  spot  where  they  might 
visit  bir  William  Pepperell,  and  be  entertained  by 
the  various  branches  of  his  family  in  their  hospita- 
ble mansions.      Mr.  S.  lived  to  see  vast  alterations 
made  in  the  place,  and  to  bury  his  old  friends  with 
whom  he   enjoyed  religious   fellowship,   as  well  as 
the  friendship  which  gives  a  charm  to  social  life. 
Of  late  we  should  not  select  this  place  for  a  minis- 
ter of  the  first  talents  in  his  profession,  or  one  as  re- 
markable for  social  qualities,  as  his  wisdom.      Mr. 
Stevens  was  distinguished  for  his  piety  and  learn- 
ing.     His  intellectual  powers  were  strong,  and  he 
engaged  with  ardor,  and  great  diligence  in  the  pur- 
suits of  science.      He  shone  in  conversation,  and  in 
the  pulpit.     Possessing  a  great  stock  of  religious 
knowledge  he  introduced  maxims,  useful  and  pious, 
with  great   pertinence,    which  rendered  him  an  in- 
structive and  entertaining  companion.     In  his  pub- 
lick  discourses  he  reasoned  well.     These  were  hap- 
pily diversified.    He  was  methodical  and  ingenious, 
pathetick  and   scriptural.       His    voice  was   rather 
strong,  but  not  clear  or  musical ;  otherwise  the  per- 
spicuity of  his   manner  would  have  rendered   him 
popular.     But  he  wanted  the  graces  of  delivery. 

He  did  not  print  many  discourses,  but  those  he 
did  publish  are  among  the  very  best  American  ser- 
mons. The  election  sermon  1761,  was  much 
celebrated,  as  likewise  a  sermon  delivered  before  a 
convention  of  ministers  at  Portsmouth  ;  the  funeral 
discouises,  one  upon  the  death  of  Andrew  Pepper- 
ell, 1752  ;  and  the  sermon  upon  sir  William  Pepper- 


458  S  T  I 

ell,  1759.  He  preached  the  Dudleian  lecture,  1772, 
upon  the  evidences  in  favour  of  Christianity.  No 
man  was  better  acquainted  with  the  deistical  contro- 
versy. The  corporation  and  overseers  presented 
him  with  a  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity  in  the  year 
1785.  We  do  not  find  any  publication  of  his  in 
latter  years.  But  many  have  wished  to  have  a  vol- 
ume of  his  sermons  published.  He  died,  May  18, 
1798,  etat.  70. 

Stiles  Ezra,  president  of  Yale  College,  was 
the  son  of  the  rev.  Isaac  Stiles  of  North  Haven, 
Connecticut.  He  entered  college  in  1742,  and  was 
distinguished  among  the  students  for  his  bright 
genius,  his  intellectual  accomplishments,  his  moral 
virtues,  and  the  suavity  of  his  manners.  When  he 
received  the  honours  of  the  seminary  in  New  Hav- 
en in  1746,  he  was  esteemed  one  of  the  greatest 
scholars  it  had  ever  produced.  He  first  commenc- 
ed his  course  of  life  with  the  study  and  practice  of 
the  law,  he  afterwards  thought  it  his  duty  to  preach 
the  gospel ;  and  settled  at  Newport,  as  pastor  of  the 
second  church,  where  he  continued  from  i755,  to 
the  year  1776.  During  this,  and  several  succeed- 
ing years,  the  enemy  were  in  possession  of  Newport; 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  scattered.  Dr. 
Stiles  was  solicited  to  preach  in  several  places,  but 
he  accepted  the  invitation  from  the  church  at  Ports- 
mouth to  remove  and  settle  with  them.  In  this 
place  he  was  universally  admired.  He  has  left  ac- 
knowledgments of  the  kind  attention  of  this  people  ; 
they  indulged  a  pride  in  the  relation  which  subsist- 
ed between  them.  They  thought  him  the  most 
learned  man  of  the  age,  were  willing  to  hear  very 
long  sermons,  some  of  them  very  critical  disquisi- 
tions ;  because  they  flowed  from  the  lips  of  Dr. 
Stiles.  There  were  many  polite  families  in  the 
place.  The  doctor  was  a  gentleman  in  his  man- 
ners. His  mildness,  condescension,  fluency  in  con- 
versation, entertaining  and  instructive  mode  of 
giving  his  opinion,  endeared  him  to  those  who  felt 


S  T  I  439 

a  reverence  for  his  character.  He  had  a  kind  of  fa- 
miliar intercourse  which  was  very  pleasing  to  all 
classes  of  people  especially  the  rising  generation. 
He  would  excite  their  emulation  and  make  them 
think  favourably  of  themselves.  Hence  some  have 
called  him  a  flatterer,  which  was  not  the  case.  His 
candid  spirit  and  a  disposition  to  view  every  person 
in  the  best  light,  and  to  put  the  best  construction 
upon  every  action,  made  him  speak  and  act,  as 
though  he  coveted  the  good  opinion  of  others,  by 
addresses  to  their  vanity.  But  his  acquaintance 
knew  where  to  trace  the  cause.  They  had  as  high 
an  opinion  of  his  integrity,  as  of  his  charity  and  affa- 
bility. His  private  diary  discovers  his  sincerity. 
In  this  he  celebrates  the  virtues  and  accomplish- 
ments of  persons  who  could  make  no  return.  He 
might  betray  want  of  judgment,  in  some  instances, 
but  cannot  be  accused  of  paying  empty  compli- 
ments ;  he  certainly  had  a  greater  knowledge  of 
books,  than  of  mankind. 

In  1778,  he  was  chosen  president  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, to  the  great  disappointment  of  the  Portsmouth 
church.  They  wished  to  fix  him  as  their  pastor. 
But  this  election  gave  pleasure  to  the  friends  of  sci- 
ence. The  plain  language  of  Dr.  Chauncy  ex- 
pressed the  wish  of  the  publick,  while  it  declared 
the  opinion  of  the  Boston  association.  "  I  know  of 
none,"  said  he,  **  but  who  rejoice  at  the  election  to 
the  presidency,  and  unite  in  the  opinion  that  you 
are  loudly  called  to  accept  the  appointment"  On 
the  8th  of  July,  1778,  he  w^as  inducted  into  the  of- 
fice.  In  this  conspicuous  orb  he  shone  with  un- 
common lustre  a  number  of  years,  was  an  honour 
to  the  college  and  his  country,  and  left  a  name  wor- 
thy of  everlasting  remembrance.  He  died  on  the 
12th  of  May,  1795,  etat.  68. 

His  cliaracter  is  delineated  in  the  publick  papers, 
and  in  several  sermons ;  memoirs  have  been  also 
printed  by  Dr.  Holmes,  in  an  octavo  volume,  enti- 
tled **  life  of  president  Stiles,"  which  is  a  very  in- 


440  S  T  O 

teresting  and  very  useful  work,  containing  many  en- 
tertaining anecdotes,  biographical  sketches  and 
much  literary  information,  besides  a  minute  and  ve- 
ry just  account  of  the  president.  Dr.  Stiles  hud 
every  literary  honour  which  his  country  could  be- 
stow upon  him,  was  a  member  of  many  learned  so- 
cieties abroad,  and  was  the  intimate  friend  and  cor- 
respondent of  the  first  characters  in  Europe  and 
America.  His  publications  are  not  numerous. 
They  are  known  in  the  learned  world,  and  consist 
of  philosophical  essays,  and  historical  narratives,* 
but  chiefly  sermons,  and  theological  tracts. 

Stoddard  Solomon,  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Northampton,  has  always  been  considered  as  one  of 
the  greatest  divines  of  New  England.  His  ser- 
mons, his  tl>eological  essays,  and  controversial 
writings  have  given  him  uncommon  distinction. 
He  was  born  at  Boston,  1643,  Antony  Stoddard, 
esq.  was  his  father ;  his  mother  was  the  sister  of 
sir  George  Downing.  He  received  the  elements  of 
his  education  under  the  famous  master  Corlet  at 
Cambridge  ;  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
1662.  He  was  afterwards  one  of  the  ftllows  of  the 
house.  Close  application  to  his  studies  having  in- 
jured his  health  he  sailed  to  Barbadoes,  as  chaplain 
to  gov.  Serle.  and  preached  to  the  dissenters  in  that 
island.  When  he  returned  to  his  native  country 
he  was  invited  to  the  pastoral  office  at  Northampton, 
to  succeed  the  rev.  Kleazer  Mather,  who  was  the 
first  minister  of  the  town  and  died  young.  He  was 
ordained,  1672,  and  preached  without  any  interrup- 
tion 56  years.  "  His  sermons  were  plain  and  pow- 
erful, experimental  and  spiritual,  close  and  search- 
ing, yet  rational  and  argumentative.  He  preached 
for  many  years  the  publick  lecture  in  Boston  the 
day  after  commencement,  and  crowds  of  pious  peo- 
ple assembled  to  hear."t  He  was  strictly  calvinisti- 
cal  in  his  opinions  upon  doctrinal  points  but  more 

*  See  Dr.  Holmes's  book, 
t  Dr.  Colmtiii's  luneral  seriuon. 


S  T  O  441 

liberal  than  other  divines  of  this  country  upon 
points  of  church  discipline  and  government.  In 
the  year  1700,  he  wrote  an  answer  to  Dr.  Increase 
Mather's  book,  entitled  the  "  order  of  the  gospel," 
which  excited  a  very  alarming  controversy.  The 
preface  to  this  book  contains  these  words,  *'  The 
reader  is  desired  to  take  notice  that  the  press  in  Bos- 
ton  is  so  much  under  the  influence  of  the  rev.  au- 
thor we  answer,  and  his  friends,  that  we  could  not 
obtain  of  the  printer  there  to  print  the  following 
sheets,"  &:c.  The  book  was  patronised  by  the  foun- 
ders of  Brattle  street  church,  and  when  Mr.  Green 
denied  the  assertion  in  the  preface,  and  said  **  that 
neither  president  Mather,  nor  his  son  Cotton  ever 
discouraged  the  printing  any  book,"  Mr.  Brat- 
tle, Mr.  Mico,  Mr.  Tuthil,  declared  upon  oath  that 
such  conversation  as  this  took  place,  ''  It  was  a 
shame  so  worthy  a  minister  as  Mr.  Stoddard  must 
send  so  far  as  England  to  have  his  book  planted, 
when  young  Mr.  M.  had  the  press  at  his  pleasure. 
To  which  he  replied  that  he  hoped  Mr.  Mather  was 
another  guess  man  than  Mr.  Stoddard.''  Some 
years  after  this  Mr.  Stoddard  and  Dr.  Increase  Ma. 
ther  had  another  controversy.  Mr.  S.  printed  a 
sermon  concerning  qualifications  for  the  Lord's 
supper.  Dr.  M,  wrote  a  dissertation,  wherein  the 
strange  doctrine,  lately  published  in  a  sermon, 
'*  the  tendency  of  which  is  to  encourage  unsanctifi- 
ed  persons  to  approach  the  table  of  the  Lord,"  is 
confuted.  This  was  answered  by  Mr,  S.  in  a 
book  of  100  pages,  entitled  an  "  appeal  to  the  learn- 
ed, in  vindication  of  the  rights  of  visible  saints  to 
the  Lord's  supper."  A  small  anonymous  pam- 
phlet, '*  the  appeal  of  some  of  the  unlearned," 
followed  this,  but  the  question  was  handled  in 
such  a  masterly  manner  by  Mr.  Stoddard  that  most 
of  the  churches  in  Connecticut  or  upon  the  river 
were  guided  by  his  sentiments.  This  controversy 
was  about  the  year  1708.  It  was  revived  in  1749 
by  the  grandson  of  Mr.  Stoddard  Mr,  Jonathan  Ed- 

3  I 


44«  S  T  O 

wards,  who  was  settled  a  colleague  with  the  old 
gentleman,  and  for  some  years  was  of  the  same 
opinion.  He  altered  his  sentiments  afterwards 
and  publickly  defended  them.  The  controversy 
ended  in  his  dismissal  from  Northampton,  but 
his  writings  had  a  wonderful  effect.  Many  of  the 
churches,  who  thought  Mr.  Stoddard  could  not  be 
m  an  error,  were  convinced  by  the  arguments  of 
Mr.  Ldvvards.  Mr.  Stoddard,  however  great  he 
was  considered  while  he  lived,  was  surpassed  by  his 
grandson,  in  the  opinion  of  the  succeeding  genera- 
tion. 

That  great  divine,  who  is  considered  by  many,  the 
light  of  these  New  Kngland  churches,  as  John  Cal- 
vin was  of  the  reformation,  wrote  his  '*  inquiry  con- 
cerning the  qualifications  for  a  complete  standing  in 
the  visible  church"  about  the  year  1749. 

The  works  of  Mr.  Stoddard  are  numerous,  and 
several  theological  treatises  of  his,  have  passed 
through  several  editions. 

He  died  February  11,  1729,  etat.  86,  and  left  an 
aged  widow,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Warham  who 
xame  over  to  Dorchester  in  1630,  and  afterwards 
settled  at  Windsor  in  Connecticut.  She  was  first 
married  to  Mr.  Kleazer  Mather.  His  eldest  son, 
Anthony  Stoddard,  was  settled  at  Woodbury,  as 
pastor  of  the  church.  The  second  son,  col.  John 
Stoddard,  was  for  many  years  one  of  his  majesty's 
council.  Butfew  men,  according  to  Hutchinson,  were 
more  universally  esteemed.  The  several  govern- 
ours  intrusted  to  his  direction  the  military  affairs  of 
the  county  of  Hampshire,  which  in  the  time  of  war 
was  peculiarly  exposed.     He  died  June  12,  1748. 

Stone  Samuel,  teacher  of  the  church  in  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  came  over  to  New  England  in 
the  same  vessel  which  brought  Mr.  Cotton,  and 
Mr.  Hooker.  He  went  with  the  company  that  set- 
tled the  town  on  Connecticut  river,  which  they  call- 
ed Hartford,  this  being  the  name  of  the  place  where 
Mr.  Stone  was  born  in  the  old  country.     He  con- 


S  T  O  443 

tiniied  his  labours  with  this  people  about  30  years, 
fourteen  with  Mr.    Hooker,    and  sixteen  after  the 
death  of  that  great  and   worthy    divine.     The  lat- 
ter years  of  his  life  were  rendered  very  uncomforta- 
ble  by  a  schism  in  his  own  church,  which  caused 
the  fire  of  contention  to  spread  over  the  colony.  It 
originated  between  him,  and  the  ruling  elder,  in  a 
speculative  opinion  ;  and  it  is  not  the  only  instance 
where  disputes  have  soured  the  disposition  which 
were  founded  in   the  pride  of  the  understanding. 
The  towns  in  the  neighbourhood  entered  warmly 
into  the  quarrel,  and  most  of  them,  as  Dr.   Mather 
says,  ''did  not  know  what  the  quarrel  was."     Mr. 
Stone  had  a  logical  head,  and  perhaps  would  hold 
arguments  where  a  little  common  sense  would  an- 
swer better.     The  elder   was   doubtless  a  gifted 
brother,   and  knew  more   from  the  light  within, 
than  his  minister,    who  was  only  a  master  of  rea- 
i»on.     Mr.   Stone  has  the  name  of  a  great  dispu- 
tant.      In  the  pulpit,   he   would  introduce  propo- 
sitions to  discuss,  before  he    came  to   any    appli- 
cation.     The  heart   is  more    apt   to   be    affected, 
however,  by  evangelical  sentiments  delivered  in  an 
impressive  manner  ;  and  truth,  like  other  beauties, 
appears  best  in  a  plain  dress.     The  church  at  Hart- 
ford,  sent  for  council  after   council,  who  were  all 
under  the  influence  of  party  zeal.       To  bring  the 
matter  to  an  issue,  they  at  last  sent  to  Boston  where 
the  ministers  or   delegates    could  have  no    partic- 
ular bias,    but  all  they  could  do,  did  not  prevent  a 
division  of  the  church.       There  was  a  removal  of 
part  of  the  church  farther  up  the  river,  and  those 
friends  who  once  had  dwelt  in  unity,  never  were  re- 
conciled after  this  unhappy  difference. 

Mr.  S.  was  very  exact  in  his  church  discipline. 
Being  once  asked  what  a  congregational  church  was  ? 
He  said,  it  was  a  "  speaking  aristocracy  in  the  face 
of  a  silent  democracy."*  He  printed  a  discourse 
^*   upon    the   logical   notion  of   a    congregational 

*  Magnalia,  boo^  iii.  chap.  16. 


444  S  T  O 

church.*'  He  also  wrote  a  book  •'  against  antino- 
mianism,"  which  the  famous  Baxter  wished  to  see 
pubhshed.  His  greatest  work,  was  a  "  body  of  di- 
vinity." This  was  never  printed.  But,  says  the 
author  of  the  Magnalia,  ''  this  rich  treasure  has 
oftenbeen  transcribed  by  the  vast  pains  of  our  can- 
didates for  the  ministry,  and  it  has  made  some  of 
our  most  considerable  divines  ;  but  all  attempts  to 
print  it  have  proved  abortive." 

Stoughton  William,  lieut.  governour  of 
Massachusetts,  was  born  at  Dorchester,  1632.  He 
was  the  son  of  Israel  Stoughton,  who  was  chosen 
assistant  in  1637,  and  the  same  year  commanded  the 
Massachusetts  forces  in  the  Pequod  war.  He 
died,  1645.  William  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  1650.  Having  turned  his  mind  to  the  stu- 
dy of  divinity,  he  became  one  of  the  most  eminent 
preachers  of  those  times.  His  election  sermon 
1668,  is  certainly  one  of  the  best  that  was  printed 
during  this  century.  He  was  never  settled  in  the 
ministry  but  in  the  year  1671  was  chosen  a  magis- 
trate. In  1677,  he  was  appointed  agent  to  the  court 
of  Great  Britain,  with  Mr.  Bulkley,  speaker  of  the 
house  of  representatives  to  answer  the  complaints 
of  Gorges  and  Mason  concerning  the  patent  line. 
He  afterwards  grew  unpopular  in  the  colony,  on  ac- 
count of  his  connexion  with  Dudley  and  i^ndross. 
He  was  on  the  moderate  side  of  politicks.  Such 
men  though  pure  in  their  principles,  are  supposed 
to  be  wrong  by  violent  men  who  must  run  to  ex- 
tremes. I'hey  however  very  frequently  save  the 
vessel,  when  tossed  by  the  waves  and  billows  of  the 
tempestuous  sea.  Afterwards,  he  obtained  the 
friendship  of  Dr.  Mather,  on  account  of  his  piety, 
and  became  a  favourite  with  all  classes  of  people. 
Being  recommended  by  him  to  king  William,  he 
was  appointed  lieut.  governour  under  the  new^  char- 
ter of  William  and  Mary.  He  was  also  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  province.  Unfortunately  for  the  country, 
the  governour,  lieut.  governour,  and  the  judges  of 


S  U  L  445 

the  court  believed  in  witchcraft.  Stoughton's  great 
abirrties  were  combined  with  so  much  weakness, 
and  he  was  more  obstinate  in  his  error  than  others 
on  the  bench.  Sevvall  humbled  himself  on  accoimt 
of  tlie  calamity  to  which  he  had  been  instrumental. 
The  chief  justice  felt  no  remorse  of  conscience, 
though  his  opinion  had  caused  innocent  beings  to 
suffer  the  most  ignominous  punishment  inflicted  on 
the  guilty.  In  1694,  when  Phips  left  the  govern- 
TYient,  he  was  the  commander  in  chief,  and  under 
his  administration,  the  affairs  of  the  province  were 
conducted  with  great  wisdom.  When  lord  Bella- 
mont  died  in  1700,  he  again  took  the  chair,  but  he 
did  it  with  reluctance.  His  age  and  infirmities  re- 
(^uired  him  to  leave  publick  business.  He  did  not 
live  through  two  years.  He  died,  May,  1702.  His 
estate  was  large,  and  being  a  bachelor,  he  was  ena- 
bled to  assist  literary  and  pious  institutions.  He 
built  a  college  at  Cambridge,  which  had  the  name 
of  Stoughton  hall  inscribed  upon  it.  The  founda- 
tion stone  was  laid  May  9th,  1698.  It  stood  almost 
a  century.  A  new  college  has  been  raised  since, 
near  the  spot,  and  bears  his  name. 

"  The  inscription  upon  his  monument  in  Dorches- 
ter burial  place  is  now  very  legible.  It  was  pub- 
lished in  the  collections  of  the  historical  society, 
vol.  ii." 

Sullivan  John,  major  general  in  the  American 
army,  was  the  eldest  son  of  a  Mr.  Sullivan  who 
came  from  Ireland,  and  settjed  in  the  district  of 
Maine.  The  father  having  some  knowledge  of  the 
latin  language,  kept  a  school  in  several  parts  of  the 
eastern  country  and  passed  his  latter  years  at  Ber- 
wick, where  he  died  at  the  age  of  105,  It  has  been 
said  that  he  could  speak  French  and  latin  fluently  when 
he  was  100  years  old.  His  sons  possessed  talents, 
which  being  united  with  r.ncommon  industry,  they, 
without  the  advantage  of  academical  education,  e- 
merged  from  their  obscure  situation  to  the  most  con- 
spicuous stations,  and  the  highest  honours  their  coun- 


446  SUL 

try  could  bestow^  For  several  years  before  the  re» 
volution,  Mr.  John  Sullivan  practised  law  in  New 
Hampshire.  He  was  a  bold,  energetick  pleader  at 
the  bar,  his  business  increased  rapidly,  and  had  he 
been  governed  by  avarice,  he  would  have  acquired 
a  fortune  in  his  business.  But  ambition  was  his 
predominant  passion,  and  he  preferred  military  glo- 
ry to  every  other  kind  of  reputation.  He  first  ac- 
cepted a  commission  as  major  of  a  regiment  in  the 
militia  in  1772.  There  was  then  no  immediate 
prospect  of  war,  and  he  might  only  receive  it  as  a 
mark  of  distinction.  Rut  as  soon  as  hostilities 
commenced  he  appeared  among  the  most  ardent 
patriots  and  intrepid  warriors.  With  a  party  of 
men  in  1774  he  went  to  the  fort,  and  by  a  manoeu- 
vre obtained  possession  of  it.  This  was  attended 
with  no  great  danger  had  he  made  the  attack,  but 
the  consequence  might  have  been  ruinous  to  him, 
if  the  independence  of  America  had  not  taken  place. 
In  1775,  he  was  appointed  brigadier  general  of  the 
American  army,  and  during  that  campaign  com- 
manded on  Winter  hill.  The  next  year  he  went  to 
Canada,  and  after  the  death  of  gen.  Thomas,*  took 
the  command  of  the  troops,  no  longer  destined  to 
conquest.  In  making  his  retreat  from  this  pro- 
vince of  the  British  empire,  he  discovered  great 
military  prudence  as  well  as  courage.  His  conduct 
gained  him  credit,  and  he  was  a  favourite  of  the  sol- 
diers. In  a  skirmish  on  Long  Island,  August  27 
of  this  year,  he  was  taken  prisoner.     He  had  liberty 

*  Major  general  John  Thomas  of  Kingston  in  the  old  colony 
of  Plymouth,  was  an  officer  who  acquired  reputation  in  the 
French  war  which  ended  with  the  peace  of  Paris  in  1763.  He 
was  one  of  the  best  officers  of  our  army  in  1775,  and  command- 
ed the  division  nearest  the  British  lines  in  Roxbury.  When 
Boston  was  evacuated  he  was  sent  to  Canada,  to  take  the  com- 
mand of  the  troops  which  Monlgoraery  and  Arnold  led  into  that 
province.  A  more  brave,  beloved  and  distinguished  character 
did  not  go  into  the  field,  nor  was  there  a  man  that  made  a  greater 
sacrifice  of  his  own  ease,  health  and  social  enjoyments.  He  died 
of  the  small  pox,  June  30,  1776. 


SUL  447 

to  go  upon  his  parole  to  Congress,  and  deliver  a 
message  from  lord  Howe.  In  October  he  was  ex- 
changed for  gen.  Prescott  and  returned  to  the  camp. 
At  the  battle  of  Trenton  he  commanded  the  right 
division,  and  gen.  Greene  the  left ;  also  at  the  bat- 
tles of  Brandy  wine  and  Germantown,  in  the  fall  of 
1777.  He  was  chief  in  command  of  the  troops 
which  went  on  an  expedition  to  Rhode  Island,  Au- 
gust, 1777,  when  count  D'Estaing  blocked  up  the 
port.  The  marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  gen,  Greene 
served  as  volunteers.  Gov.  Hancock  went  from. 
Massachusetts  at  the  head  of  the  militia.  The  par- 
ticulars of  the  failure  are  related  in  the  histories  of 
the  war.  Sullivan  and  the  regular  troops  did  every- 
thing to  support  the  credit  of  the  army.  In  1779, 
an  expedition  was  planned  by  gen.  Washington  to 
attack  the  Indians  in  their  own  settlements.  A  w^ell 
chosen  army  was  prepared,  and  gen.  Sullivan  put  at 
the  head.  They  penetrated  above  90  miles  through 
a  wilderness,  where  they  passed  horrid  swamps, 
and  barren  mountainous  desarts.  All  the  occur- 
rences are  related  in  a  letter  to  the  president  of 
congress,  Sept.  SO,  1779.  After  the  peace  with 
Great  Britain,  Mr.  S.  resumed  his  practice  at  the 
bar,  he  was  one  of  the  convention  which  formed 
the  state  constitution  for  New  Hampshire,  and  chos- 
en into  the  first  council.  When  president  Lang- 
don  accepted  the  place  of  senator  of  the  United 
States,  he  was  chosen  president,  and  continued  in 
the  office  till  his  death.  He  was  succeeded  in  this 
office  by  col.  Bartlett  in  1790. 

Gen  Sullivan  has  a  high  rank  among  the  officers 
of  the  revolutionary  army,  and  has  an  equal  claim 
to  distinction  among  the  statesmen,  politicians  and 
patriots  of  1775,  his  name  appears  with  some  splen- 
dour among  the  literati  of  America.  He  acquired 
an  extensive  knowledge  of  men  and  things.  He 
read  more  than  any  could  suppose  consistent  with 
the  active  scenes  of  his  life.  Harvard  University 
received  him  among  her  sons,  as  mai^ter  of  arts,  and 


448  S  Y  M 

he  was  presented  with  a  degree  of  doctor  of  laws  by 
the  university  of  Dartmouth.  It  oui^ht  to  be  no- 
ticed  that  gen.  Sullivan  was  a  member  of  the  first 
congress  in  1774.  He  resigned  this  ofiice  for  the 
sake  of  going  into  the  army. 

Smibert  Nathaniel,  a  celebrated  painter, 
died  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  his  death  excited  uni- 
versal sorrow.  He  was  a  most  amiable  and  accom- 
plished youth,  but  like  a  fair  flower  just  opening  to 
the  view,  he  was  soon  cut  down.  It  is  the  general 
opinion  of  those  who  knevv^  him,  that,  had  he  lived, 
he  would  have  obtained  a  reputation  equal  to  that  of 
West,  and  Copely,  or  any  other  American  genius, 
who  has  done  honour  to  his  country  in  the  imitating 
art.  They  have  had  laurels  heaped  upon  them. 
The  myrtle  grew  upon  his  grave.  His  father  was 
a  painter  of  some  eminence  in  the  line  of  his  pro- 
'fession,  and  designed  his  son  should  be  a  scholar. 
For  this  purpose  sent  him  to  the  school  of  which 
the  fiimous  Mr.  Lovell  was  preceptor.  One  of  the 
first  and  best  pieces  of  Smibert 's  pencil  was  **  the 
portrait  of  his  old  master  while  the  terrifick  impres- 
sions vibrated  on  his  nerves.''  Smibert  was  a  fine 
classical  scholar,  but  did  not  incline  to  pass  the 
number  of  years  necessary  for  obtaining  the  hon- 
ours of  college.  He  was  passionately  fond  of  his 
father's  business,  and  their  room  was  often  visited 
by  connoisseurs,  for  the  sake  of  the  pictures,  many 
years  after  their  heads  were  laid  in  the  dust.  One 
of  the  most  prominent  of  this  exhibition  was  a 
groupe,  and  dean  Berkeley  the  principal  character, 
\Ve:  have  been  told  of  a  portrait,  once  having  a  place 
there,  of  John  Checkley,  the  famous  scholar,  and 
droll,  with  lines  under  it  written  by  young  Smibert, 
that  discovered  talents  for  poetry. 

The  year  of  his  death  is  not  recollected  exactly 
by  his  friends,  had  he  been  graduated  at  college,  it 
would  have  been  in  the  year  1757.  He  died  about 
this  time. 

Symmes  Zachariah,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Charlestown,  was  born  at  Canterbury,  April  5,  1599. 


SYM  449 

His  father's  name  was  William.  He  was  minister 
of  Sandwich  in  1587;  and  also  the  son  of  Wil- 
liam, a  man  who  was  a  protestant  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Mary.  Zechariah  was  educated  at  the  uni- 
versity of  Cambridge.  He  came  into  New  England 
in  1635,  and  was  invited  to  settle  in  Charlestown, 
as  their  teaching  elder,  Mr.  James,  being  pastor  of 
the  church.  Johnson  speaks  highly  of  the  wife  of 
this  Mr.  Symmes.  He  belonged  to  Charlestown, 
and  was  doubtless  acquainted  with  her.  **  Among 
all  the  godly  women,"  says  he,  *•  that  came  through 
the  perilous  seas,  Mrs.  Sarah  Symmes  ought  not 
to  be  omitted,  her  courage  exceeded  her  stature, 
she  bore  every  difficulty  with  cheerfulness,  and 
raised  up  ten  children  to  people  this  American  wil- 
derness." Mr.  Symmes  had  several  children  add- 
ed after  Johnson  wrote,  according  to  his  epitaph, 
which  gives  him  5  sons  and  8  daughters.  He  died 
Feb.  4,  1676. 

SymmesZaghariah,  minister  of  Bradford,  was 
the  son  of  Mr.  S.  of  Charlestown,  and  was  graduated 
at  Harvard  College,  1657.  He  was  one  of  the  fel- 
lows of  the  college,  was  ordained  at  Bradford  about 
the  year  1660,  and  died,  March  22,  1708. 

Symmes  Thomas,  son  of  the  minister  of  Brad- 
ford, was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1698, 
and  settled  first  at  Boxford.  After  he  had  left 
that  people,  he  was  invited  to  succeed  his  father 
in  the  church  at  Bradford.  He  had  very  popular 
talents  in  the  pulpit,  and  made  considerable  of  a 
figure  in  his  profession,  but  he  wanted  prudence  in 
the  economy  of  his  family,  and  a  kind,  winning 
manner  of  address  with  his  parishioners.  With  a 
better  salary  than  his  neighbours  he  lived  and  died 
poor  ;  and  he  likewise  kindled  a  party  spirit  in  both 
parishes  where  he  was  settled.  One  matter  of  dis- 
pute was  concerning  church  musick.  The  people 
were  not  used  to  regular  singing,  and  he  was  de- 
termined to  introduce  it  in  opposition  to  their  pre- 
]u4ices.  He  was  a  singer  himself,  and  could  not 
3  k 


450  T  A  I 

bear  jargon.  He  wrote  an  anonymous  pamphlet 
upon  this  subject ;  this  was  followed  by  *'  a  joco- 
serious  dialogue  concerning  regular  singing,"  by 
Thonr) as  Sy mme s ,  philomu sicu  s ,  1722.  There  was 
iaauch  ingenious  satire,  mingled  with  his  argutnent, 
and  he  gave  great  offence.  He  died  Oct.  22,  1725. 
(His  death  was  much  lamented  by  ministers  and  the 
publick.  That  he  was  a  fine  speaker  we  may  judge 
from  the  compliment  of  Dr.  Colman  m  the  preface 
to  the  artillery  election  sermon  which  Mr.  Symmes 
jpreached  and  printed,  1720,  **  may  it  be  as  profita- 
ble in  the  reading  of  it  as  it  was  pleasant  in  the 
hearing*  /  The  preacher  was  unto  us,  as  a  very 
lovely  song  of  one  that  has  a  pleasant  voice  and  can 
play  well  on  an  instrument,'*  &c.  Mr.  Symmes  al- 
so published  in  1725.  "  historical  memoirs  of  the 
fight  at  Pigwacket,  and  a  sermon  on  the  death  of 
fcapt.  Lovwell." 

Tailer  William,  lieut.  governour  of  Msissa- 
ehusetts,  came  over  with  his  commission  from  the 
queen  in  1711.  He  was  a  very  facetious,  pleasant 
man,  and  agreeable  to  the  people  in  his  manners, 
though  in  his  politicks  on  the  side  of  the  preroga^ 
tive,  and  in  his  religious  principles  an  episcopalian. 
In  1722  Mr.  Dummer  was  promoted  to  his  place, 
and  he  had  another  office  given  to  him,  which  he 
preferred,  because  the  income  was  better  and  surer. 
But  when  Belcher  was  advanced  to  the  chair  of  gov- 
ernment, he  had  promised  a  place  to  a  gentleman, 
whom  the  agent,  Mr.  Wilkes,  had  recommended. 
On  this  account,  it  was  settled  that  Mr,  Tailer 
should  again  be  lieut.  governour,  and  Mr.  Dummer 
a  man  every  way  qualified  for  his  station,  should  be 
set  aside.  He  died,  March  1,  1732,  aged  55  years. 
From  a  sermon  preached  at  Thursday  lecture,printed 
with  a  dedication  to  Mrs.  Tailer,  it  seems  he  mar- 
ried a  relation  of  gov.  Stoughton,  and  possessed  his 
estate  at  Dorchester.  The  preacher  also  tells  the 
lady,  '*  her  husband  was  no  bigot,  for  he  often  at* 
tendied  worship,  with  her  at  Dorchester  meeting.'* 


T  HA  454 

This  is  mat  complete  demonstration^  considering 
what  iniuence  ladies  have  :  to.  balance  it  we  might 
.produce  his  name  to  a  complaint  o£the  episcopali- 
ans against  the  dissenters  from,  then!  mode  o£  wor- 
ship.* He  was. djoubdess  a  very  respectable  charac-^ 
ter,  and  his  principles  catholick  for  those  times,  and 
he  was  attached  to  the  country.  He  was  also  a  man 
of  sense  and  information.  His  funeral  was  splen*^ 
did!,  the  bells  in  Boston  aU  tolied  from  11  until  5 
o'clock,  though  he  was  buried  at  Dorchester,  and 
a  greater  number  of  carriages  had  never  been  63^-. 
hibited.  His  excellency,  gov.  Belcher,  the  hon. 
Mr.  Dummer,  Addington  Davenport,  Thomas 
Hutchinson,  Elisha  Cooke,  and  Adam  Winthrop^ 
supported  the  palL 

Thacher  ThoivIas,  first  minister  olj  thei  Old 
South  church  in  Boston,  was  born  in  England,  May 
1,  li620.  His  father  was.  the  ijev.  Peter  Thacher, 
minister  at  Sarum,  who  intended  to  come  over  to 
these  new  regions,  but  was.  prevented  by  the  state 
of  his  family.  Thomas:  had  a  good  school  educa* 
tion,  and  it  was  his  father's  desire  to  send  him  to 
the  university  of  Oxford  or  Cambridge  ;  but  he  dev 
clined,  and  came  over  to  New  England,  A.  D.  1635^ 
In  a  letter  published  by  his  uncle,  Antony  Thachen, 
we  learn  how  remarkably  he  was  preserved  from 
shipwreck.  Mis  friends  sailed  from  Ipswich  in  the 
month  of  August  for  Marblehead,  where  Mr.  John 
Avery,  a  worthy  divine,  was, to  settle.  A  terriblfe 
storm  threw  the  vessel  upon  the  rocks,  most  of  the 
people  perished',  and  Mr.  Thacher  was  cast  ashore 
on  a  desolate  island.  It  bears,  his  name  to  this  day, 
as  also  a  place  is  called  A.v^^ry'^s.fall,  where  this  good 
man  perished..  Thomas  Thacher  preferred  to  go 
by  land,  and  escaped  these  dangers.  He  received 
his  education  from  Mr.  Chauncy,  who  was  after- 
wards president  of  the  college.  He  studied  not  on- 
ly what  is  common  for  youth   to   acquire,  but  also 

•  Funeral  sermon,  by  rev.  Mr.  Cooper,  and  Historical  Collec- 
tions. 


452  T  H  A 

the  oriental  languages.  He  afterwards  composed  0 
Hebrew  lexicon,  and  we  learn  from  Dr.  Stiles,  that 
he  was  a  scholar  in  Arabick,  the  best  the  country 
afforded.  This  is  not  mentioned  in  our  ecclesi- 
astical annals.  Dr.  Mather  tells  us,  that  he  was  a 
great  logician ;  that  he  understood  mechanics  in  the- 
ory and  practice,  that  he  would  do  all  kinds  of  clock 
work  to  admiration  i  He  was  eminent  in  two  pro- 
fesbions.  He  was  pastor  of  a  church  ;  ordained  at 
Weymouth,  June  2,  1644.  After  some  years  mar- 
rying  a  second  wife,  who  belonged  to  Boston,  he 
left  his  parish  at  Weymouth,  where  he  practised 
physick  as  well  as  preached,  and  was  an  eminent 
phyiiician  in  this  town.  He  was  still  looked  upon  as 
a  great  divine,  and  when  a  third  church  was  found- 
fed,  he  was  chosen  their  minister.  Over  this  church 
he  was  installed^  Feb.  16,  1669,  and  in  this  station 
he  continued  till  he  died.  The  last  sermon  he 
preached,  was  for  Dr.  I.  Mather,  1.  Peter,  4,  18. 
He  afterwards  visited  a  sick  person,  and  was  him- 
self seized  with  a  fever,  and  expired  Oct.  15,  1678. 
He  left  two  sons,  who  were  by  his  first  wife,  the 
daughter  of  the  rev.  Ralph  Partridge  of  Duxbor- 
ough.  The  eldest,  Peter,  was  a  famous  minister 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Boston.  And  Ralph,  who 
was  settled  at  Martha's  vineyard.*     Magnalia, 

Thacher  Peter,  son  of  the  rev.  T.  Thacher^ 
of  Boston,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in 
1671.  He  was  an  excellent  scholar,  and  an  object 
of  esteem  and  affection  with  the  ingenuous  youth 
of  the  university.  An  attachment  to  one  of  his  class- 
mates, Mr.  Samuel  Danfbrth,  son  of  the  deputy  gov- 
ernour,  Thomas  Danforth,  led  him  to  cross  the  At- 
lantick  for  the  sake  of  enjoying  his  company  in  his 
travels.       They  had  been  tutors  at  the  same  time, 

*  He  printed  very  few  of  his  productions.  Except  his  He- 
brew l-exicon,  and  his  catechism,  each  of  which  was  on  a  sheet  of 
paper  ;  and  some  account  of  the  small  pox  in  a  few  pages,  there  is 
nothing  to  be  found,  but"  a  fast  sermon,  1674  ;"  and  this  was 
ttanscribed  from  the  minutes  of  those  who  heard  it. 


T  H  A  453 

and  were  unwilling  to  be  separated,  but  death,  the 
destroyer  of  every  hope,  who  levels  our  most  pleas- 
ing prospects  with  the  dust,  cut  short  the  days  of 
Mr.  Danforth;  upon  which  event,  Mr.  Thacher  re- 
turned to  his  native  country.  He  was  invited  to 
take  charge  df  the  church,  at  Milton,  and  ordained* 
September,  1681. 

He  married  the  daughter  of  the  rev.  Mr.  Oxen- 
bridge,  pastor  of  the  old  church  in  Boston.  Sh^ 
was  the  mother  of  the  children  which  survived  him. 
He  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Milton  above  46 
years,  and  was  very  much  distinguished  among  his 
brethren.  He  preached  the  election  sermon,  1711 ; 
Artillery  election  sermon,  1705 ;  the  convention 
sermon,  1724.  The  first  of  these  was  printed,  the 
last  is  preserved  in  mss.  being  among  the  the  valu- 
able treasures  of  the  Historical  society.  He  died, 
December  17,  1727. 

His  character  was  delineated  by"  an  able  hand  in 
the  Boston  Weekly  Newsletter.  From  which  it 
appears  that  he  had  *'  a  great  deal  of  vivacity,  tem- 
pered with  grace  and  wisdom  ;  that  he  was  very  en- 
gaging in  conversation,  and  in  hispublick  perform- 
ances ;  that  he  was  a  zealous  assertor  of  the  purity 
and  liberty  of  the  congregational  churches,  but  ca- 
tholick  to  those  who  embraced  other  opinions  ;  and 
that  his  advice  was  often  solicited  in  ecclesiastical 
councils." 

He  did  not  outlive  his  usefulness,  his  intellectu* 
al  vigour  remaining  at  the  last  sabbath  of  his  life. 
He  then  preached  in  a  lively  and  affectionate  man- 
ner. The  next  day  he  was  seized  with  a  complaint, 
which  in  36  hours  finished  his  course. 

Thacher  Oxen  bridge,  was  the  son  of  Mr. 
Thacher  of  Milton  ;  was  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege, 1698  ;  was  a  preacher  for  several  years,  and 
then  fixed  in  Boston  in  a  different  line  of  business. 
He  was  selectman  and  representative^  and  was  left 
out  of  the  general  court,  with  the  other  friends  of 
gov.  Belcher  in  1739.     Soon  after  this,  he  retired  to 


•< 


454  T  H  A 

Milton,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days.  He 
lived  longer  than  any  of  the  geaeratioQ  witii  whom 
he  sat  out  in  the  journey  of  life.  He  was  93  yeacsi 
old,  whea  he  died,  in  1772. 

Thacher  Oxen  bridge,  an.  eminent  lawyer^^ 
3on  of  Oxenbridge  Thacher  of  Milton,  wds  gradu- 
ated, 1738.  He,  also,  was  a  preacher,  but  with  a 
small  voice,  and  slender  state  of  health,  did  not 
Hjieet  with  success  «qual  to.  some  who  have  only  th^ 
sounding  brass  to  give  them  a  reputation.  Mr* 
Thacher  was  sensible,  learned,  pious,  a  calvinist, 
beloved  by  his  friends,  and  respected  by  the  nume-. 
rou5  friends  of  a  family  distinguished  from  the  first 
settlement  of  the  country  ;  yet  with  all  these  advan- 
t^es,  found  it  necessary  to  leave  his  profession, 
aad  ga  into  a  line  of  life,  which  required  no  abilities; 
but  a  vast  deal  of  drudgery  to  transact.  Mtt  sooa 
failed,  and  was  persuaded  to  study  law ;  for  which 
lie  had  no  great  inclination  at  first,  but  afterwards 
made  a  shining  figure  at  the  bar,  and  upon  the  the- 
atre  where  politicians  act  their  parts.  He  was  re*, 
presentative  for  Boston  when  the  first  acts  were? 
jnade  to  raise  a  revenue.  Being  a  genuine  whigb^ 
opposed  every  measure  of  the  British  parliament 
against  the  constitution  of  his  country;*  He  also; 
wrote  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  the  sentiments  of  British 
Americans,"  which  is  read  with  pleasure  at  the  pre- 
sent day.  It  was  particularly  levelled  against  the 
Havigation  act,  but  contains  general  remarks,  and 
well  adapted  to  the  times.  Mr.  T.  also  published 
a  pamphlet,  "  considerations  upon  reducing  the  va- 
lue ol  the  gold  coins  within  the  province."  It  con^ 
tained  the  substance  of  several  pieces  he  wrote  in 
the  nevvpapers  in  opposition  to  the  opinion  of  gov. 
Hutchinson.  The  controversy  is  ably  discussed  in 
Mijiot's  continuation  of  the  history  of  Massachu- 
setts. The  health  of  Mr.  Thacher  declined  from 
the  time  of  his  receiving  the  small  pox,  in  1764* 
Pulmonary  complaints  succeeded,  and  he  died^  Ju^ 
ly  8th,  1765. 


T  OR  4i;s 

He  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  highly  esteem^ 
€d  by  his  fellow  citizens  for  his  moral  worth,  as  well 
as  his  legal  knowledge.  His  death  was  universally 
lamented  as  a  great  loss  to  the  publick.  He  left  two 
sons  who  have  since  made  a  figure  in  their  profes- 
sion, rev.  Peter  Thacher,*  who  died  1802,  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Brattle  street,  and  rev.  Thomas 
Thacher,  pastor  of  a  church  in  Dedham. 

Thomson  William,  pastor  of  the  church  ift 
Braintree,  is  called  by  Dr.  Mather,  one  of  the  A^ 
merican  pillars.  He  came  from  Lancashire  inta 
New  England.  He  first  WTiit  to  Virginia,  but  was 
too  much  of  a  puritan  to  find  his  labours  acceptable 
there.  He  was  a  very  acceptable  preacher  in  thest 
parts,  where  his  sentiments  were  more  congenial  t® 
the  publick  opinion.  This  good  man  was  unhappy 
in  his  mind,  a  prey  to  melancholy,  and  under  great; 
temptation  to  commit  suicide.  He  prayed  earnest- 
ly to  be  brought  out  of  darkness,  the  pastors  and 
brethren  of  the  neighbouring  churches  poured  out 
their  cries  and  supplications  for  him,  and  his  end 
was  peace.  He  died,  Dec.  20,  1666.  It  is  said 
that  he  was  an  author  of  some  reputation,  but  elc- 
cept  one  or  two  prefaces  to  the  books  of  others, 
none  of  hi\  publications  have  come  down  to  us* 

ToRREY  William,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Massachusetts,  was  one  of  our  earliest  authors. 
The  place  where  he  fixed  his  abode  was  Weymouth, 
and  he  was  active  in  calling  the  rev.  T.  Thacher  to 
be  pastor  of  their  church.  He  was  appointed  a  jus- 
tice of  peace,  *'  with  a  power  to  marry."  He  was 
one  of  the  first  military  officers  in  the  colony.  When 
he  received  a  commission  to  be  captain  of  the  train 
band,  it  was  as  high  a  rank  as  was  then  known. 
He  was  a  man  of  very  considerable  learning,  and 
wrote  a  book  upon  the  Millenium.  It  is  entitled, 
"  a  discourse  concerning  futurities  to  come  written 
by  a  very  old  man,  in  continual  expectation  of  his 

*  For  the  details  of  the  character  of  the  rev.  Peter  Thacher^ 
D.  D.  see  the  close  of  the  8th  vol.  Historical  Collections. 


456  TOR 

translation  into  another  life  and  world."  It  was  a 
4to.  about  60  pages.  A  second  edition  was  printed 
in  8vo.  in  1757,  with  a  preface  by  Mr.  Prince. 

ToRREY  Samuel,  son  of  William  Torrey,  was 
an  eminent  scholar  and  divine.  His  school  learning 
he  received  from  his  father  who  understood  latin 
very  well.  He  entered  Harvard  College,  and  would 
have  taken  his  degree  in  1650,  but  left  college  with 
a  number  of  others,  because  a  law  was  made,  re- 
quiring the  students  to  stay  4  years  in  order  to  re- 
ceive their  degrees.  He  soon  preached,  and  was 
invited  to  settle  at  Weymouth,  1656,  where  he  con- 
tinued 5 1  years  a  faithful,  laborious,  exemplary  min- 
ister. He  had  such  a  gift  in  prayer  that  he  was  al- 
ways chosen  upon  publick  occasions,  as  Mr.  Prince 
tells  us  *'  to  bring  up  the  rear  of  their  religious  ex- 
ercises." Upon  a  pxiblick  fast  in  the  year  1696,  he 
prayed  two  hours  after  all  the  other  exercises  were 
over,  and  was  €0  pertinent,  so  regular,  so  natural, 
so  free,  lively  and  aifecting,  that  towards  the  end, 
hinting  at  some  new  and  agreeable  scenes  of  thought, 
we  could  not  help  wishing  him  to  enlarge  upon 
them.  This  was  the  language  of  that  eminent  law- 
yer, Mr.  Read,  to  Mr.  Prince.  He  was  a  student 
of  college,  at  the  time,  and  he  said  his  fellow  stu- 
dents regretted  that  he  did  not  pray  an  hour  longer. 

Mr.  T.  was  invited  to  preach  the  election  sermon 
three  times,  in  1674,  1683,  1695,  and  the  discours- 
es are  excellent.  He  was  a  person  "  of  such  deep 
and  extensive  views  that  the  governourand  council 
^vould  send  for  him  to  come  15  miles,  to  help  them 
with  his  advice  and  wise  observations.  His  inti. 
mate  friends  were  gov.  Stoughton,  Judge  Sewall, 
rev.  Mr.  Mcodey,  Willard,  Hobart  of  Newtown  and 
Thacher  of  Milton,  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of 
secretary  Rawson.  Although  he  never  had  the  hon- 
our of  a  degree  at  college,  yet  upon  the  death  of 
president  Rogers  in  1686,  he  was  chosen  to  succeed 
him,  but  excused  himself  from  accepting  that  hon- 
ourable  station  ;  but  acted  a  number  of  years  as  feij 


T  R  U  457 

iow  of  the  corporation.     He  died,  April  10,  1707, 
etat.  76. 

Mr.  Prince  says  his  father  was  **  an  instance  of 
what  emin(-nt  men  of  the  civil  order  once  adorned 
our  New  Enghind  churches."  We  may  observe, 
that  the  .son  was  an  instance  of  what  our  divines 
were  a  century  ago,  when  the  first  gentleman  of  the 
civil  order  so  highly  respected  them  ;  Mr.  Pember- 
ton  likewise  alludes  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Torrey, 
when  he  says  *'  we  had  not  dried  our  eyes  for  the 
loss  of  our  Sa?nuel,  when  Providence  opens  anew 
the  fountain  of  our  tears  by  afflicting  us  with  the 
news  of  another."* 

Tre  A  DWELL  Daniel,  an  eminent  mathemati- 
cian, was  born  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire, 
his  parents  came  from  Ipswich,  Massachusetts.  He 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1754.  He  was 
elected  professor  of  mathematicks  in  King's  Col- 
lege, New  York,  the  same  year  he  took  his  degree 
at  Cambridge,  to  which  place  he  was  recommend- 
ed by  Mr.  professor  Winthrop  He  died  a  few 
years  after  greatly  lamented.  In  Chandler's  life  of 
president  Johnson,  after  speaking  of  their  obtaining 
this  excellent  young  man  to  be  professor,  he  says, 
"  in  the  year  1759,  there  was  a  private  commence- 
ment on  account  of  the  small  pox.  The  president 
spent  the  winter  at  Stratford,  but  under  great  anxi- 
ety of  mind,  for  he  left  Mr.  Treadwell,  the  mathe- 
matical professor  in  a  declining  state  of  health, 
which  soon  turned  to  a  consumption,  and  put  a  pe- 
riod to  his  life  early  in  the  spring." 

Trumbull  Jonathan,  governour  of  Connecti- 
cut, was  a  descendant  from  the  eaxly  settlers  of  New- 
England.  Two  brothers,  of  the  name,  came  from 
the  west  of  England  into  the  Massachusetts  colony. 
The  one  fixed  at  Charlestown,  the  other  at  Ipswich. 
The  father  of  gov.  Trumbull  was  a  substantial  far- 
mer in  the  town  of  Lebanon  in  Connecticut.  When 
he  was  a  young  man  he  went  to  this  place,  and  was 

*  Sermon  upon  Mr.  Willard. 


45&  T  R  U 

one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  year  1700.  He  cmh 
grated  from  Westfield  in  the  county  of  Hampshire, 
where  his  father  had  removed  from  Ipswich,  who  was 
among  the  most  respectable  of  the  yeomanry.  The 
governour  was  born  at  Lebanon  in  1710.  In  the 
year  1723,  he  entered  Harvard  College.  He  early 
discovered  fine  talents  and  a  most  amiable  disposi- 
tion. He  was  a  modest  ingenuous  youth,  very  bash- 
ful when  he  first  entered  college,  owing  to  his  ten- 
der years,  as  well  as  retired  situation  ;  but  he  was 
much  beloved  by  his  classmates,  and  when  he  took 
his  degree,  one  of  the  finest  scholars,  with  such 
accomplishments  as  qualified  him  to  be  useful,  as 
\vq\\  as  to  make  the  most  conspicuous  figure.  He 
was  fond  of  the  study  of  divinity,  and  for  some 
years  was  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  -^  he  then  turned 
his  attention  to  jurisprudence,  and  soon  became  an 
eminent  civilian.  It  is  an  observation  of  Mr, 
Hutchinson  *'  that  many  of  the  first  characters  in 
Massachusetts  were  at  first  probationers  for  the 
ministry,  and  afterwards  made  a  figure  at  the  bar, 
or  in  the  legislative  or  executive  courts  of  the  pro- 
vince "  We  recollect  the  names  of  Stoughton, 
Read,  Gridley  and  judge  Stephen  Sewall.  That  gen- 
tleman adds,  that  when  persons  have  been  ordained 
they  ought  *'  to  have  very  special  reasons  to  leave 
the  profession  for  a  civil  employment."  We  have 
seen  an  instance  of  this  in  gov.  Saltonstall,  where 
the  publick  was  much  benefitted. 

Gov.  Trumbull  was  employed  in  many  civil  offi- 
ces all  of  v\  hich  he  executed  with  great  fidelity,  and 
grew  in  the  esteem  of  the  people  as  he  advanced  in 
years.  He  was  an  active  man  in  publick  life,  51 
years  ;  15  of  which  he  was  governour  of  Connecti- 
cut colony.  When  he  first  went  into  this  office  it 
required  a  man  of  prudence,  firmness,  consistency 
and  ability  to  manage  affairs.  A  good  pilot  is  ne- 
cessary for  every  bark  which  sails  on  the  tempes- 
tuous  sea.  In  Connecticut  the  appearance  was 
more  tranquil  than  the  neighbouring  province,  but 


T  R  U  459 

the  clouds  were  gathering  which  soon  darkened  the 
face  of  the  country.  Gov.  Trumbull  saw  the  storm 
burst  upon  Massachusetts  m  1775  ;  he  lived  to  see 
the  auspicious  day,  also,  when  his  country  enjoyed 
the  blessings  of  peace,  and  the  glory  of  her  inde- 
pendence. No  man  could  guide  the  vessel  of  state 
with  more  care.  No  man  ever  loved  his  country 
more.  During  the  whole  American  war,  he  showed 
himself  the  honest  and  unshaken  patriot,  the  wise 
.and  able  magistrate.  In  an  excellent  speech  he 
made  to  the  general  assembly,  October,  1783,  he 
^thus  expresses  himself,  "  I  have  to  request  the  fa- 
vour of  you,  gentlemen,  and  through  you,  of  all  the 
freemen  of  the  state,  that  after  May  next,  1  may  be 
excused  from  any  further  service  in  publick  life, 
and  from  this  time  I  may  no  longer  be  considered 
as  an  object  for  your  suffrages  for  any  publick  em- 
ployment. The  reasonableness  of  the  request  I  am 
persuaded  will  be  questioned  by  no  one.  The 
length  of  time  I  have  devoted  to  their  service,  with 
my  declining  state  of  vigour  and  activity,  will  I 
please  myself  form  for  me  a  sufficient  and  unfailing 
excuse  with  ray  fellow  citizens." 

This  excellent  man  departed  this  life  on  the  17th 
of  August,  1785,  at  his  seat  in  Lebanon  in  the  75th 
year  of  his  age.  His  father  had  lived  the  same  num- 
ber of  years. 

Gov.  Trumbull  made  a  great  collection  of  papers, 
mss.  Sec.  which  were  presented  by  the  family  to  the 
Massachusetts  historical  society,  several  of  them 
have  been  printed  in  the  volumes  of  their  collections. 
They  consider  the  whole  as  an  invaluable  treasure. 
Among  their  honorary  members,  and  truly  honour- 
able men  is  the  present  Jonathan  Trumbull,  esq, 
the  eldest  son  of  his  late  excellency,  and  the  pre- 
sent worthy  governour  of  Connecticut.* 

*  Mons.  Chastelleux,  who  saw  c;ov.  TnimbuII  when  he  wa« 
70  years  old,  writes,  "  He  was  governour  by  excellence,  for  he 
had  been  so  15  years,  having  been  rechosen  every  r^yo  years^  and 
equally  possessing  the  public  esteem,  under  the  British  govern- 
ment and  that  of  congress.     His  whole  life  is  devoted  to  business. 


460  T  U  C 

TucKEB  John,  D.  D.  a  celebrated  divine   and 
controversial  writer,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege, 1741,  and  ordained  over  the    first  church   at 
INewbury  iu  1745.      He  was  a  man  of  very  superi- 
our  abilities,   and  having  pursued  his  studies  with 
diligence,  he  shone  with  a  mild^   engaging,  as  well 
as  brilliant  lustre  amidst  the  stars  ot  our  churches. 
Being  a  man  of  inquiry,  like  some  of  his  great  pre- 
decessors, he  was  subjected  to  vexations  and  trials, 
on  account  of  his   opinions,  which  differed  from 
the   generality  of  the  neighbourhood.     He  had  too 
fiur  a  mind  to  disguise  his  sentiments  and  too  much 
honour  and  liberality  to  impose  them  on  others.   He 
never  willingly  entered  into  a  theological  dispute, 
but  whenever  he  was  called   upon  to  defend  his 
tenets,  did  it  with  boldness  and  skill,  as  a  reason - 
er,  a  man  of  pious  sentiment,   a  divine  filled  wath 
christian  candour,  and  influenced  by  the  love  of  re- 
ligion. No  man  was  less  opinionated,  or  discovered 
more  pleasantjtess,  good  humour  and   good  man- 
ners in  social  intercourse.      In   his  writings,  how- 
ever, upon  controverted  points,  while  he  treated  the 
subject  with  reverence,  he  indulged  a  vein   of  hu- 
mour and  satire,  against  his  antagonist  which  gav€ 
a  keen  edge  to  his  style,   and  made  dry  arguments 
entertaining.     This  appears  in  a  work  of  his,  enti- 
tled, *'  a  brief  account  of  an  ecclesiastical  council  so 
called,   convened  in  the   first  parish   of  Newbury, 
March  31,  1767."     They  had  several  sessions,  and 
he  printed  an  account  of  each  session  as  soon  as  it 
was  ended  ;    and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  whole,  a 
sermon.  Acts  xx.  17,  18,   "  being  a  minister's  ap- 
peal to  his  hearers  as  to  his  life  and  doctrine."  Mr, 

■wliicli  he  passion:»tely  loves,  whether  important  or  not,  or  rather 
vvitli  rtspect  to  iiini  there  is  hone  of  the  latter  description.  He 
iias  all  the  simplicity  in  his  dress,  all  the  importance  and  even  all 
the  pedantry,  btcominj^  the  great  magisli-ate  of  a  small  republic. 
He  bi ought  to  my  mind,  the  burgomasters  oi  Holland,  the  Hein- 
siuses  and  the  Barnevek'.ts,'*  £cc. 

He  mentioned  several  other  things  mingled  with  the  mistakes 
of  a  traTtiler. 


TUC  461 

Aaron  Hutchinson  on-e  of  the  council  preached,  and 
wrote  against  him,  which  he  answered  very  lively* 
keen  and  pointed  remarks. 

Another  spiritual  adversary  of  Mr.  T.  was  the 
rev.  Jonathan  Parsons  of  Newburyport.  Those 
who  were  disaffected  to  Mr.  T.  went  over  to  his 
church,  and  were  aided  by  him,  in  making  excep- 
tions to  their  minister's  preaching  until  they  be- 
come,  as  thorns  in  his  side.  In  the  year  1757  Mr.T. 
printed  a  pamphlet  **  observations  on  the  doctrines 
and  uncharitableness  of  the  rev.  Jonathan  Parsons," 
&.C.  These  were  followed  by  another  pamphlet 
several  years  after,  in  which  he  vindicated  the  civil 
government  of  this  province  from  that  gentleman's 
severe  charges  of  spiritual  tyranny  and  slavery. 
This  was  printed  1774,  Mr.  P.  made  no  reply.  Mr. 
Tucker  had  another  controversy  with  a  gentleman 
in  the  neighbourhood,  a  very  respectable  clergy- 
man, and  zealous  calvinist.  This  was  managed 
with  more  gravity  and  respectful  attention  to  the 
character  of  a  brother  in  the  ministry.  In  the  year 
1767,  the  rev.  James  Chandler  of  Rowley,  printed 
a  sermon  in  which  was  a  marginal  note  aimed  at 
what  Mr.  T*  had  written  concerning"  confessions 
of  faith."  Mr.  T.  addressed  a  printed  letter  to  Mr. 
Chandler,  in  which  he  spake  against  making  any 
rule  of  faith,  but  the  bible.  To  this  iMr.  Chandler 
replied  in  a  sensible  sedate  manner,  but  defended,, 
with  some  zeal,  the  doctrines  of  the  New  England 
churches,  and  the  propriety  of  creeds  and  confes- 
sions, &c.  This  produced  a  "  second  letter  from 
Mr.  Tucker  in  reply  to  Mr.  Chandler's  vindica- 
tion," 1768,  54  pages. 

The  same  year  Mr.  T.  was  chosen  to  preach  the 
convention  sermon  ;  he  also  preached  the  election 
sermon,  1771  ;  and  the  Dudleian  lecture,  1778.-^ 

*  Beside  the  publications  above  mentioned,  he  printed  four  ser- 
mons upon  evani^ehcal  subjects,  and  a  thanksgiving  sermon  in 
1756.  Se^e•cll  ordinalion  sermons  and  otiier  occasional  dicoiirses. 
.*Mso  asetmon,  ?\Iark  xv'.  15,  16  ;   on  Joiin  vi.  44,  1769. 


462  U  S  H 

The  university  of  Harvard  presented  him  with  his 
diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity. 

The  latter  years  of  his  life  he  suffered  much  from 
ill  health,  but  was  not  wholly  taken  off  from  his  la- 
bours till  within  a  few  months  of  his  death,  which 
event  took  place  on  the  22d  of  March,  1792. 

Underhill  John,  capt,  one  of  the  first  planter  & 
of  Massachusetts,  was  the  friend  of  sir  Henry  Vane, 
and  sent  by  him,  as  commander  of  the  colony  troops 
.to  Say  brook  in  1637.  He  made  the  attack  with 
capt.  Mason  upon  their  fort  at  Mistick,  where  the 
fierce  spirit  of  that  tribe  was  broken  by  the  loss  of 
so  many  men  as  were  then  destroyed ;  even  Sassacus 
was  discouraged,  and  fled  to  the  Mohawks,  and  ve- 
ry soon  those  Indians,  as  a  tribe,  were  extinguish- 
ed. In  1641,  Underhill  was  chosen  governour  of 
Exeter  and  Dover,  but  his  honours  did  not  set  well 
upon  him ;  he  was  soon  in  deprest  circumstances. 
Gov.  Winthrop  tells  a  long  story  of  his  setting  up- 
on a  stool  of  repentance  in  the  Boston  church,  with 
a  white  cap  upon  his  head,  and  making  a  confession 
of  his  sins.  His  character  was  very  excentrick  in 
many  things,  and  in  whatever  he  did  he  run  to  ex- 
cess. He  was  a  very  great  enthusiast  in  religion, 
but  a  debauchee  in  practice.  It  is  surprising,  how- 
ever, that  when  he  was  accused  of  such  immorali- 
ties, the  church  censure  did  not  rest  wholly  upon 
these.  One  great  crime  was  that  he  dated  his  con- 
version from  a  time  he  was  smoking  tobacco. 
Hence  they  thought  it  not  sincere.  It  was  necessa- 
ry to  be  under  the  '*  preaching  of  the  word." 

After  seeing  many  changes,  capt.  Underhill  left 
the  New  England  provinces,  and  died  among  the 
Dutch  at  Manhadoes*     Winthrop, 

Usher  John,  lieut.  governour  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, was  counsellor  of  Massachusetts  after  their 
charter  was  taken  away,  and  when  Dudley  had  a 
commission  as  president,  in  1686.  The  same  year 
we  find  his  name  among  the  counsellors  of  sir  Ed- 
mund Andross.     He  was  also  treasurer  of  this  pro- 


VAN  463 

vince,  and  it  is  said  he  was  of  eminent  service  in 
purchasing  the  district  of  Maine.  By  some  he  was 
held  up  to  public  odium,  as  an  enemy  to  New  En- 
gland, one  who  was  ready  to  sacrifice  their  charter 
rights  for  the  sake  of  his  own  aggrandizement.  By 
others  he  is  represented  as  just  and  honest,  a  true 
lover  of  the  country,  though  on  the  side  of  prerog- 
ative. While  he  was  lieut.  governour  of  New 
Hampshire  he  was  not  a  popular  character,  perhaps 
his  own  interest  led  him  to  act  against  the  interest 
of  the  people.  He  had  married  the  daughter  of 
Samuel  Allen,  esq.  and  therefore  had  every  tempta- 
tion to  assist  in  maintaining  the  large  claims  of  the 
family.  After  he  was  dismissed  from  the  govern- 
ment, he  left  that  province,  and  retired  to  his  estate 
at  Medford,  near  Boston,  where  he  died,  Sept.  1st, 
1726,  etat.  79. 

Vane  sir  Henry,  was  the  son  of  sir  H.  Vane, 
who  was  in  king  Charles's  court.  A  very  pious 
man,  but  no  fanatick.  His  son  was  equally  fanati- 
cal in  politicks  and  religion.  Displeased  with  the 
manners  of  men  in  his  own  country,  he  came  into 
New  England.  In  1635,  on  the  3d  of  March,  he 
was  made  a  freeman  of  the  colony.  In  1636,  he 
was  chosen  governour.  The  Boston  people  were 
very  fond  of  him.  The  country  people  did  not 
like  him,  and  the  next  year  exerted  themselves  to 
put  him  out  of  office.  This  caused  some  goads 
to  his  earthy  nature  though  his  friends  pretended 
that,  in  his  mind,  all  was  heaven.  His  religion 
was  pure  antinomianism.  His  adherents  said  that 
sanctification  was  no  evidence  of  justification,  and 
that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  personal  holiness. 
Many  of  them  settled  Rhode  Island.  Sir. Henry 
went  to  England,  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  O. 
Cromwell,  was  an  hot  headed  zealot,  an  enemy  to 
the  presbyterians  as  well  as  royalists.  He  was  a 
man  tossed  about  by  new  opinions,  and  the  mere 
sport  of  his  feelings  worked  up  to  a  kind  of  spirit- 
ual ardour.      Hi;i  ideas  of  Christ's  imputation,  led 


464  V  A  S 

him  to  believe  universal  salvation,  which  indeed 
is  very  consistent  with  antinomian  principles. 
And  he  was  as  zealons  in  diiFubing  his  ideas,  that 
all  men  should  be  happy,  as  he  had  been  to  prove  that 
none  but  he  and  a  very  few  others  should  be  saved. 

When  the  royal  party  prevailed,  and  Charles  II. 
ascended  the  throne,  Vane  had  no  idea  tiiat  he 
should  be  excepted  from  tlx;  act  of  indemnity.  He 
was  executed  for  treason,  June  14,  1662.  **  His 
enthusiasm,"  says  Mr.  Hume,  excited  by  the  pros- 
pects of  fijlory,  embellished  the  conclusion  of  a  life, 
which,  through  the  whole  course  of  it,  had  been  so 
much  disfigured  by  the  prevalence  of  that  principle. 
In  all  his  behaviour,  there  appeared  a  firm  and  ani- 
mated intrepidity,  and  he  considered  his  death  but 
as  a  passage  to  that  eternal  felicity,  which  he  be- 
lieved prepared  for  him." 

Sir  Henry  left  some  writhigs,  mostly  religious. 
Men  of  reason  and  sentiment  may  wonder  how  so 
great  a  man  could  write  so  weakly,  or  so  crude- 
ly. All  are  not  alike  unintelligible  :  *'  The  mys- 
tery of  godliness,  written  by  sir  H.  Vane,  con- 
tains serious  and  pood  observations.  A  copy  of 
it,  is  in  the  historical  library.  Some  have  thought 
the  father  of  our  governour  was  the  authour. 

Vassall  William,  the  18th  associate  men- 
tioned in  the  charter  of  Massachusetts,  came  over 
as  the  5th  assistant.  Mr.  Prince  says,  that  although 
one  of  the  patentees  and  assistants,  yet  in  the  lists 
of  the  courts  he  could  not  find  his  name  mentioned. 
He  returned  to  l^.ngland  in  the  year  1631.  A  few 
years  afterwards  he  returned  to  New  England,  and 
^.ettled  at  Scituate,  in  Piv  mouth  colony.  When  Jamai- 
ca was  taken,  he  laid  the  foundation  of  the  great  es- 
tates which  his  posterity  enjoyed  till  the  revolution* 
William  and  his  brother  Samuel  Vassall  were  less 
puritanical  than  those  friends  on  the  new  plantation, 
and  soon  manifested  their  difference  of  opinion. 
When  the  Browns  carried  their  complaints  home 
against  Endicot,  and  the  matter  was  referred  to  c^r* 


W  A  L  46S 

tain  gentlemen,  Samuel  and  William  Vassal  were 
two  of  the  referees,  chosen  by  the  complainants ; 
Winlhrop,  Johnson,  &c.  were  chosen  by  the  com- 
pany.    Hutchinson  and  Prince, 

Wad^wohth  Benjamin,  president  ofHarvard 
College,  was  the  son  of  capt.  Samuel  Wadsworth, 
who  was  killed  at  Sudbury  in  1676.  He  was  born 
at  Milton  in  1669  ;  was  graduated  1690,  and  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Boston,  1696, 
In  July,  1725,  he  was  installed  president  of  the  col- 
lege. His  mind  was  rather  strong  than  brilliant,  as 
a  preacher  he  was  grave,  but  not  animated.  He  de- 
livered his  sermons  without  notes,  and  his  memory 
was  so  tenacious,  that  on  all  occasipns  he  could 
quote  any  chapter  or  verse  of  the  bible,  without  re- 
curring to  the  pages.  Hence  he  retained  all  the 
learning  he  acquired  in  his  youth,  which  was  of 
great  advantage  to  him,  when  he  was  president. 
The  general  opinion,  however,  was  that  he  was  bet- 
ter fitted  for  the  pastor  of  a  church,  than  to  be  mas- 
ter of  the  school  of  the  prophets.  He  had  confined 
his  studies  to  theology,  and  was  not  a  man  of  exten- 
sive erudition,  or  much  acquainted  with  the  scien- 
ces. He  departed  this  life  March  16,  1737,  etat.  68.* 

Walter  Nehemiah,  was  born  in  Ireland,  De- 
cember, 1663,  where  he  had  th^  rudiments  of  his 
education.  When  he  was  13  years  old,  he  could 
converse  in  latin  fluently.  About  the  year  1680, 
his  father  came  into  New  England,  and  put  his^ 
son  under  the  care  of  the  celebrated  Cheever, 
who  declared  the  lad  to  be  completely  fitted 
for  college.  He  was  grariuated  1684.  After  leav- 
ing college,  he  went  to  Nova  Scotia,  for  the  sake  of 
learning   French,  and  he  was  so  fond  of  the  lan- 

•  His  works  are  a  disco»irse  on  ihe  last  judgment,  1709;  a 
small  volume  of  sermons  in  12  mo.  1711,  Luke  14,  16;  an  ar- 
tillery election  sermon,  A 700;  election  sermon,  171^;  twelve 
sermons  in  1717  ;  and  iji  1718,  an  essay  for  sprci^ding  the  gospel 
into  ignorant  places  ;  three  sermons  in  1722  ;  one  in'^1725  ;  als'> 
ap  essay  upon  the  de  calogue  ;  and  fourteen  sermons  upon  a  good 
conscience  ;  a  discq^rse  upon  the  christian  Sabl^ath. 
3  M 


466  WAL 

guage,  that  he  afterwards  procured  many  French 
aulhours  ;  and  he  conversed  so  much  with  the  pro- 
testant  refugees,  that  he  could  preach  to  them  in 
their  native  tongue.  In  1688,  Oct.  17,  he  was  ordain- 
ed over  the  first  church  in  Roxbury.  The  old  apostle, 
John  Kliot,  hearing  him  preach,  declared   he  must 
have  him  for  his  colleague.       Mr.  Dudley  opposed 
so  sudden   an  invitation,  but  approved  the  choice 
when  they  had  farther  proof  of  his  talents.   He  con- 
tinned  tlie  pastor  of  this  church  above  60  years,  and 
died  September  17,  1750,  aged  87.     Mr.  Eliot  died 
in  1690,  having  been  minister  58  years.   He  said  of 
Mr.  Walter  that  he  would  be  a  most  brilliant  light 
of  the  New  England  churches^     He  was  indeed  an 
admirable  preacher,  as  well  as   fine  scholar.        His 
discourses  were  always  studied,  and  he  delivered 
them   with  great  animation,  though  with  a  feeble 
voice.    He  always  had  a  very  delicate  bodily  frame  ; 
and  was  very  small  of  stature.     His  character  and 
preaching  were  often  the  subject  of  praise  to  young 
candidates.       When  he  was  very  old  he  preserved 
the  affection    of  the  people,  and  the  esteem  of  the 
publick.     BeiL>g  a  meek  and  humble  christian,  he 
had  his  conversc.>tion  in  the  simplicity  of  truth,  and 
sincerity  of  the  gospel.     Mr.  W.  never  put  himself 
forward  to  preach  i  ipon  pubiick  occasions,  and  was 
seldom  persuaded    to  print  any  of  his  discourses. 
He  published  several,  however,  which  were  very  ac- 
ceptable, and  are  read'  ^^  ^^^  present  time,* 

*  A  sermon  warning  unfrui  ^^"^  hearers,  which  has  been  re-» 
printed  ;  also,  ti»c  body  of  sin  anatomised  ;  a  discourse  upon 
vain  tlioughts  ;  the  great  concern  of  man  ;  the  vvonderfulness  of 
Christ;  the  iioliness  of  heaven;  and  the  convention  sermoi-,  1723, 
A  volume  of  his  sermons  was  printed  ^-^^''  '^^^  death,  upon  the  55 
of  Isaiah,  with  an  account  of  him,  fro  ^  ^^''^^^'^  ^'^*^  compiler  has 
taken  some  facts.  Other  notices'  wer.  *  communicated  by  those 
who  knew  him.  To  these  might  be  ac  ^^^^  ^'^'  dolman's  opin- 
ion, ''  when  one  is  hearing  Mr. '  VV  it  see  ^^  as  if  any  man  could 
preach  so,  yet  few  can  equal  him  "  Mr  1  "'emberton  used  to  say, 
'^  I  know  no  man  that,  in  his  preachinq-,  rt  ^o^^^^^s  perspicuity 
with  accuracy,  like  Mr.  Walter  " 


W  A  L  467 

Walter  Thomas,  son  of  the  minister  of  Rox- 
bury,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1713,  was 
ordained  his  father's  colleague,  October  19,  1718, 
and  died  January  10,  1724'.  He  possessed  a  very 
extraordinary  genius,  having  all  his  father's  vivaci^ 
ty  and  richness  of  imagination,  with  more  vigour 
of  intellect.  When  he  was  at  college  he  was  not  a 
hard  student,  and  was  too  fond  of  company.  His 
intimate  associate  was  John  Checkley,  who  had 
iiiuch  learning  with  his  wit  and  humour.  This  was 
a  grief  to  his  father ;  and  his  uncle  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather  who  warned  him  to  beware  of  that  man ; 
but  however  he  might  be  attached  to  his  friend  for 
his  companionable  qualities,  he  soon  entered  into  a 
publick  altercation  with  him  upon  theological  senti- 
ments. Checkley  wrote  certain  dialogues  upon  pre- 
destination, in  vvhich  he  threw  sarcasms  upon  the  re- 
ligion of  our  fathers,  which  Mr.  W.  answered.* 
Dr.  Chauncy  in  his  account  of  eminent  men,  says, 
*'  there  was  no  subject  but  what  Mr.  Walter  was 
eminently  acquainted  with,  and  such  was  the  pow- 
er he  had  over  his  thoughts  and  words,  that  he 
could  readily,  without  any  pains,  write  or  speak  just 
as  he  would ;  that  he  made  himself  master  of  all 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  learning,  by  taking  frequent 
opportunities  of  conversing  with  him  ;  and  that  had 
he  not  died  in  the  prime  of  life,  he  would  have  been 
known  as  one  of  the  first  of  our  great  men." 


«  In  the  year  1719,  20,  an  anonymous  pamphlet  was  publish- 
ed, entitled.  Choice  dialogues  between  a  godly  minister,  and  an 
honest  cotintryman,  concerning  election  and  predestination,  de- 
tecting the  false  principles  of  a  certain  man,  who  calls  himstlf  a 
presbyterian  of  the  church  of  England.  By  a  reverend  and  labo- 
rious pastor  in  Christ's  flock,  by  one  who  has  been  for  almost 
twice  thirty  years,  a  faithful  and  painful  labourer  in  Christ's  vine- 
yard. 

This  was  answered  in  a  book  of  about  80  pages  duo.  entitled, 
a  choice  dialogue  between  John  Fauslus,  a  conjurer,  and  Jack 
Tory  his  friend,  occasioned  by  some  choice  dialogues  lately  pub= 
lished  concerning  predestination,  8cc.  By  a  young  stripling.  The 
authoi'was  vvell  known. 


4618  WAR 

He  excelled  also  *'in  the  science  oF  harmony,'^ 
and  printed  a  book  upon  the  ground  work  of  mii- 
sick,  with  the  rules  which  have  been  generally  in 
tise.  His  book  was  a  standard  work  in  New  Eng- 
land, near  half  a  century.  The  tunes  he  collected 
were  introduced  into  our  churches  when  there  was  re- 
gular singing,  and  his  rules  taught  in  the  schools. 
He  also  published  a  sermon  upon  2  Samuel,  xxiii.  1, 
*'  The  sweet  psalmist  of  Israel."  A  more  beauti- 
ful composition  does  not  exist  among  the  occasion- 
al sermons  handed  down  to  us  from  our  fathers.  It 
discovers  much  learning  as  well  as  pious  sentiment. 
This  sermon  was  preached  at  the  Boston  lecture, 
1723,  and  printed  at  the  desire  of  the  ministers.  It 
is  dedicated  to  judge  Dudley.  The  next  year  he 
published  a  "  a  sermon  upon  the  scriptures,  being 
the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice."  This  was  also 
preached  at  the  Boston  lecture^  and  was  very  accept- 
able to  the  publick. 

Ward  Nathaniel,  an  eccentrick  genius,  and 
learned  divine,  was  the  son  of  the  rev.  John  Ward 
of  Haverhill,  and  born  1570.  He  was  educated  at 
the  imiversity  of  Cambridge,  and  came  into  this 
country,  1634.  He  settled  as  pastor  of  the  church 
at  Ipswich,  then  called  Agawam.  In  1641,  he  was 
invited  by  the  freemen  to  preach  the  election  ser- 
mon. This  was  rather  a  political  than  an  evangeli- 
cal discourse,  according  to  JMr.  Winthrop,  in  which 
he  has  been  imitated  by  preachers  in  modern  times. 
It  is  a  good  observation,  and  has  been  often  repeated, 
**  that  the  election  sermon  is  the  pulse  by  which  we 
can  tell  the  state  of  the  body  politick."  Mr.  W. 
had  been  bred  a  lawyer,  was  a  traveller,  and  knew 
so  much  of  the  law  oi  nature  and  nations  that  he 
was  employed  to  draw  up  a  code  of  laws  for  New 
England.  Though  a  pious  man  he  was  very  eccen- 
trick in  his  conduct.  He  soon  left  his  charge  at 
Ipswich,  was  without  employment  for  some  time, 
and  returned  to  England  in  1647.  He  was  after- 
wards a  settled  minister  at  Sheffield.  The  account 
iof  his  death  is  in  1653. 


W  A  fl  469 

tlis  works  are  curious  and  scarce.  The  book  en- 
titled  the  '' simple  cobler  of  Agawam,"  which  he 
wrote  at  Ipswich,  and  printed  afterwards  in  his  na- 
tive country,  is  a  medley  of  wit  and  humour,  origi- 
nal observation  in  a  strange  style,  and  obsolete  Ian. 
guage  ;  yet  interesting  the  attention,  where  we  can- 
not approve  the  remarks.  He  was  an  enemy  to  tol- 
eration in  every  shape,  a  great  bigot  to  his  own 
opinions,  and  wonderfully  ingenious  and  satirical 
against  those  of  a  different  opinion. 

He  wrote  otlier  books  of  humour,  and  some  learn- 
ed treatises,  but  none  have  come  down  to  the  pre- 
sent age,  but  the  "  simple  cobler,"  which  has  pass- 
ed through  many  editions.     JVinthrop, 

Ward  John,  son  of  the  famous  Nathaniel  Ward» 
was  born  in  England,  1606,  before  his  father  left 
Haverhill.  The  place  where  he  settled  in  this  colo- 
ny, was  called  Haverhill,  a  pleaslnt  spot  on  Merri- 
mack river,  where  he  continued  a  faithful  pastor 
from  1646  to  the  year  1694.  He  preached  N[ov.  19, 
of  this  year,  being  then  in  the  88th  year  of  his  age, 
-and  died  of  paralytick  affections,  Dec.  27.   Magnalia. 

Ward  Artemas,  major  general  of  the  Ameri- 
can army,  deserves  a  distinction  among  those  patri- 
ots who  exerted  themselves  in  the  cause  of  liberty, 
and  for  the  independence  of  their  country.  He  was 
a  gentleman  of  liberal  education,  having  received 
the  honours  of  Harvard  College  in  the  year  1748. 
He  was  an  active  and  useful  member  of  the  general 
court  for  s^everal  years  ;  and  one  of  the  provincial 
congress  in  1774.  He  had  served  in  the  war  pre- 
vious to  the  peace  of  Paris.  When  the  revolution, 
ary  war  commenced^  he  was  the  first  officer  in  rank, 
and  commanded  the  troops  at  Cambridge  till  gen. 
Washington  arrived.  No  man  could  show  more 
firmness  and  intrepidity  than  he  did  upon  some 
trying  occasions.  When  Washington  was  general- 
issimo, he  was  the  first  major  general,  and  com- 
manded the  division  at  Roxbury.  Gen.  Thomas 
and  gen.  Heath  were  brigadier  generals.      He  re- 


470  "^     WAR 

signed  his  commission  in  1777,  and  went  into  th^ 
civil  line.  He  was  chosen  one  of  the  council  of 
Massachusetts,  and  was  highly  esteemed  for  his  po- 
litical integrity,  his  independency  of  spirit,  and  stea- 
dy attention  to  the  duties  of  his  station.  In  1786, 
he  was  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives  ;  and 
chief  justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  for  th^ 
county  of  Worcester.  A  lawless  mob,  with  Wheel- 
er  and  Convers  at  their  head,  arose  to  unhinge  the 
government,  and  stood  at  the  door  of  the  court 
house  with  bayonets  fixed  to  oppose  the  court. 
Gen.  Ward  behaved  with  coolness  and  intrepidity, 
and  used  every  wise  method  to  bring  them  to  con- 
sideration.* After  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  established,  he  was  a  member  of  con- 
gress, and  then  retired  to  private  life,  where  he  liv- 
ed  some  years,  receiving  honour  and  respect  from 
the  people.     He  died  at  Newbury  in  the  year  1800, 

Warham  John,  came  over  with  the  company 
from  the  west  of  England,  who  settled  the  town  of 
Dorchester  in  Massachusetts,  in  1630.  He  and  Mr. 
Maverick  continued  together  for  six  years.  He  then 
went  to  Connecticut  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
town  of  Windsor,  and  continued  with  this  people 
till  his  death,  the  1st  of  April,  1670.  He  was  the 
only  minister  who  used  notes  in  his  preaching,  but 
was  more  animated  in  his  delivery  than  most  of  his 
brethren,  and  was  a  very  excellent  divine.  He  was 
subject  to  hypochondriack  complaints,  which  had 
such  an  effect  upon  him  at  times,  as  to  fill  his  mind 
with  spiritual  gloom.  He  frequently  administered 
the  communion  without  partaking  of  it,  thinking 
himself  unworthy,  when  no  one  else  doubted  his 
qualifications.     Magnalia. 

Warren  Joseph,  major  general  of  the  Ameri- 
can army,  was  born  at  Koxbury.  His  parents  were 
respectable,  and  in  that  place  he  received  the  first 
rudiments  of  his  education.  He  entered  Harvard 
College  when  he  was  but  15  years  old,  and  receiv- 

•  Minot's  history  of  the  insurrection  in  Massachusetts. 


WAR  471 

ed  the  honours  of  that  seminary  in  1759  and  1762, 
Havingturned  his  attention  to  medical  studies,  he  was 
soon  qualified  for  the  practice,  and  in  the  year  1764, 
when  the  small  pox  spread  through  Boston,  and 
vast  numbers  were  inoculated,  he  was  among  the 
physicians,  who  were  most  eminent  in  the  profes- 
sion. Had  he  confined  his  views  to  professional 
business  he  might  have  enjoyed  the  affluence  of 
wealth,  with  a  high  reputation.  He  certainly  was 
happy  in  the  affection  of  a  numerous  part  of  this 
town,  who  had  the  most  lively  opinion  of  his  human- 
ity and  skill.  His  fine  address,  as  well  as  his  taste 
for  philosophy  and  the  belles  lettres,  gained  him  the 
esteem  and  regard  of  the  polite  and  learned,  while 
his  frank,  open  disposition,  and  obliging  attention 
to  persons  under  various  circumstances  of  human 
distress,  caused  him  to  be  greatly  beloved  by  those 
who  tread  the  humble  walks  of  life.  But  his  mind 
was  too  ardent  and  active  to  be  confined  to  the  du- 
ties of  a  profession,  and  he  was  a  stranger  to  the 
passion  of  avarice.  He  soon  had  an  opportunity  to 
show  his  talents  as  a  fine  writer,  and  also  his  elo- 
quence  and  patriotick  zeal.  These  were  manifest- 
ed upon  many  occasions  from  the  year  the  stamp 
act  was  passed,  to  the  time  of  the  war  which  sepa- 
rated the  colonies  from  the  parent  country.  He  was 
in  the  class  of  bold  politicians^  as  they  were  then  dis- 
tinguished from  the  moderate  whigs.  While  some 
made  a  distinction  between  internal  and  external 
taxes  ;  while  many  were  sending  petition  after  peti- 
tion to  the  foot  of  the  throne  ;  while  the  generality 
of  the  people  dreaded  a  war  on  account  of  our  want 
of  resources,  and  the  omnipotence  of  the  British  na- 
tion ;  lie  felt  superiour  to  these  fears  and  despised 
the  suppliant  tone  of  children  to  mother  Britain  ; 
he  was  uniform  in  his  opinion  that  every  kind  of 
taxation  was  complete  tyranny  ;  and  it  was  a  com- 
mon expression  with  him,  that  we  could  fight  our 
own  battles,  if  Great  Bricain  sent  her  armies  over 
the  Atlantick.      He  was  persuaded  that  they  never 


472  WAR 

would  send  large  armies,  in  which  he  would  have 
found  himself  mistaken,  had  he  lived  a  few  years 
longer  ;  but  allowing  they  made  ever  so  great  ex- 
ertions to  conquer  America,  they  could  only,  in  his 
opinion,  destroy  the  seaports ;  they  would  not  be 
able  to  penetrate  into  the  country  ;  and  he  said  that 
we  ought  to  make  any  sacrifices  rather  than  sub- 
mit to  arbitrary  and  oppressive  measures  ;  or  be  so 
mean  and  pusillanimous  as  to  tremble  at  the  rods 
which  would  continually  be  shaken  over  our  heads. 
From  the  year  1768,  a  number  of  politicians  met 
at  each  other's  houses  to  discuss  publick  affairs,  and 
to  settle  upon  the  best  methods  of  serving  the  town 
and  country.  Many  of  these  filled  publick  offices. 
But  the  meetings  were  private,  and  had  a  silent  in- 
fluence  upon  the  publick  body.  In  1772  they  agreed 
to  increa&e  their  number,  to  meet  in  a  large  room, 
and  invite  a  number  of  substantial  mechanicks  to 
join  them,  and  hold  a  kind  of  caucus^  pro  bono  pub- 
lico. They  met  in  a  house  near  the  north  battery, 
and  more  than  60  were  present  at  the  first  meeting. 
Their  regulations  were  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Warren 
and  another  gentleman,  and  they  never  did  any 
thing  important  without  consulting  him  and  his  par. 
ticular  friends.  It  answered  a  good  purpose  to  get 
such  a  number  of  mechanicks  together  ;  and  though 
a  number  of  whigs  of  the  first  character  in  the  town 
were  present,  they  always  had  a  mechanick  for  mod- 
erator, generally  one  who  could  carry  many  votes 
by  his  influence.  It  was  amatter  of  policy  likewise 
to  assemble  at  that  part  of  the  town.  It  had  the 
effect  to  awake  the  north  wind,  and  stir  the  waters 
of  the  troubled  sea.  By  this  body  of  men  the  most 
important  matters  were  decided — they  agreed  who 
should  be  in  town  offices,  in  the  general  court,  in 
the  provincial  congress,  from  Boston.  Here  the 
committees  of  publick  service  were  formed,  the 
plan  for  military  companies,  and  all  necessary  means 
of  defence.  They  met  about  two  years  steadily  at 
one  place.      After  the  destruction  of  the  tea,  tho 


WAR  473 

place  of  assembling  was  known,  and  they  met  at  the 
Green  Dragon  in  the  spring  of  1775,  with  as  ma- 
ny more  from  the  south  end,  and  the  records  of 
their  proceedings  are  still  preserved.  The  writer 
of  these  memoirs  has  been  assured  by  some  of  the 
most  prominent  characters  of  this  caucus,  that  they 
wxre  guided  by  the  prudence  and  skilful  manage- 
ment of  Dr.  Warren,  who,  with  all  his  zeal  and  irri- 
tability, was  a  man  calculated  to  carry  on  any  secret 
business  ;  and  that  no  man  ever  did  manifest  more 
vigilance^  circumspection  and  care,  in  every  coun- 
try there  are  politicians,  who  are  the  mere  cymbals 
of  the  mob,  and  answer  some  good  purpose,  when 
they  are  riot  left  to  themselves ^  In  this  country, 
through  all  stages  of  the  revolution,  we  had  many 
such,  who,  to  their  own  imagination,  appeared  to  di- 
rect the  affairs  of  the  publick.  Such  men  were 
never  admitted  to  be  members  of  the  caucus 
here  mentioned  ;  many  of  them  never  knew  the 
secret  springs,  that  moved  the  great  wheels,  but 
thought  themselves  very  important  characters,  be- 
cause  they  were  sons  of  liberty,  and  excelled  oth- 
ers in  garrulity,  or  made  a  louder  cry  upon  the 
wharves,  or  at  corners  of  streets. 

Dr.  Warren  was  twice  chosen  the  publick  ora- 
tor of  the  town,  and  his  orations  were  among  the 
best  compositions,  as  any  one  will  see,  who  reads 
the  volume  containing  all  the  orations,  spoken  on 
the  5th  of  March. 

At  the  battle  of  Lexington,  he  was  perhaps  the 
most  active  man  in  the  field.  His  soul  beat  to  arms, 
as  soon  as  he  learnt  the  intention  of  the  British 
troops.  It  is  said,  in  the  memoirs  of  gen.  Heath, 
that  a  ball  grazed  his  hair,  and  took  of  part  of  his 
ear  lock. 

He  was  ready  upon  every  alarm,  from  this  time, 
till  he  was  slain.  Nothing  could  be  in  a  more  con- 
fused state  than  the  army  which  first  hastily  assem- 
bled at  Cambridge.  This  undisciplined  body  of 
men  were  kept  together  by  a  few, who  deserved  well 

3    N 


474  WAR 

of  their  country.  Among  them  gens.  Ward  and 
Putnam  were  distinguished,  the  one  for  his  firm, 
prudent  conduct,  and  the  other  for  his  romantick 
courage.  Dr.  W.  was  perhaps  the  man  who  had 
the  most  influence,  and  in  whom  the  people  in  the 
environs  of  boston  and  Cambridge  placed  their 
highest  confidence.  He  did  wonders  in  preserving 
order  among  the  troops.  Four  days  before  the  bat- 
tie  of  Bunker's  Hill  he  was  appointed  major  gener- 
al of  the  American  army.  When  the  entrench- 
ments  were  made  at  Bieed'ii  Hill,  he,  to  encourage 
the  men  within  the  lines,  went  down  from  Cam- 
bridge, and  acted  as  a  volunteer.  Col  Pres- 
cot  commanded  the  party  within  the  lines,  and  col. 
Starks  the  men  who  w^ere  without,  behind  a  rail 
fence,  and  did  such  amazing  execution  by  a  well 
directed  fire. 

Gen.  Warren  fell  in  the  trenches.  A  female  his- 
torian of  the  war  tells  us,  that  he  chose  to  die  rather 
than  be  taken  prisoner.  We  are  at  a  loss  to  know 
how  this  can  be  ascertained.  We  always  under- 
stood he  was  killed  outright,  and  had  not  at  his  own 
option  any  of  the  circumstances  of  his  death. 

It  is  true,  however,  that  at  all  times  he  discover- 
ed  the  greatest  fortitude  and  bravery,  and,  as  he  liv- 
ed an  ornament  to  his  country,  his  death  reflected  a 
lustre  upon  himself,  and  the  cause  he  so  warmly  es- 
poused, l^io  person's  fall  was  ever  more  regretted, 
and  yet  no  one  could  help  feeling  the  sentimnty  who 
repeated  the  line 

Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori. 

Had  success  attended  the  Americans,  his  death 
would  have  been  sufficient  to  damp  the  joys  of  vie* 
tory,  and  the  cypress  would  be  blended  with  the 
laurel.  The  loss  of  such  a  man,  in  addition  to  our 
defeat,  and  at  a  time  when  the  distracted  state  of 
our  affairs  greatly  needed  his  advice,  threw  a  gloom 
upon  the  circumstances  of  the  people,  and  excited 
the  most  sincere  lamentation  and  mourning.  The 
elegant,  the  generous  and  humane  '*  all  mingled  th^ 


W  E  A  475 

sympathetick  tear,'*  and  paid  their  respects  to  his 
memory. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  the  British  troops 
left  Boston,  his  body  was  brought  from  Breed's 
Hill,  where  it  had  lain  undistinguished  from  his 
fellow  soldiers,  to  be  entombed  in  a  Boston  burial 
place.  The  several  lodges  of  free  masons  preced- 
ed, and  multitudes  of  his  fellow  citizens  followed, 
the  corpse.  An  eloquent  orator,  a  brother  mason, 
pronounced  the  funeral  eulogy,  in  the  Stone  Chap- 
el. The  exordium,  addressed  to  the  ''Illustrious 
Relicks,"  had  a  very  strong  effect  upon  the  auditory. 
Gen.  Warren  had  been  grand  master  of  free  ma- 
sons  through  North  America  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  all  the  friends  of  the  craft  now  highly  respect 
his  memory. 

Having  said,  that  in  private  life  gen.  Warren  was 
amiable,  we  repeat  it,  that  in  person,  mind,  and 
manners  he  was  equally  w-ell  accomplished.  He 
gained  the  love  of  those  who  lived  with  him  in  hab- 
its of  intimacy,  while  the  publick  voice  celebrat- 
ed  his  virtues.  With  sensibilities  uncommonly 
strong,  and  a  zeal  which  blazed  in  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty, he  was  candid,  generous,  and  ready  to  do  kind 
offices  to  those  who  had  different  sentiments  con- 
cerning the  controversy.  There  are  persons  now 
living,  who  recollect  his  polite  attentions,  when 
they  were  slighted  and  wounded  by  others  whose 
minds  were  less  liberal,  or  more  corroded  with  par- 
ty spirit. 

«—- — Cui  pudor,  et  justkis  soror, 
IncoiTupta  fides,  nudaque  Veritas. 

Quando  ullum  invenient  parem  ? 
Multisille  bonis  flcbilis  occidit. 

Weare  Meshech,  president  of  New  Hamp- 
shire,  was  descended  from  respectable  ancestors, 
who  were  concerned  in  most  of  the  publick  and  po- 
litical transactions  of  the  province.  He  himself  was 
engaged  above  30  years  in  publick  employments. 
He  was  first  chosen  representative,  from  the  town 


476  W  E  L 

of  Hampton,  for  the  general  court.  In  this  place  he 
succeeded  his  father,  and  was  also  a  magistrate  for 
the  county.  For  some  years  he  was  speaker  of  the 
house.  In  the  year  1754,  when  the  American  con- 
gress assembled  in  Albany^  he  was  appointed  a  com- 
missioner. His  knowledge  of  the  law  qualified  him 
for  a  place  on  the  bench  of  judges  of  the  supreme 
court.  In  the  year  1777,  he  was  appointed  chief 
justice.  During  the  revolutionary  war  he  was  an 
active  man  in  managing  the  concerns  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. He  was  annually  elected  president  of  the 
body  politick,  or  chief  magistrate,  from  1776  to 
1784,  when  a  constitution  was  formed  for  the  state. 
The  people  paid  so  much  respect  to  him,  as  to  choose 
him  their  first  president,  though  it  was  evident  his 
age  and  infirmities  required  rest  from  his  publick 
labours.  He  sought  retirement,  and  resigned  the 
office  before  another  election.  The  historian  of 
New  Hampshire  delineates  his  character,''  as  a  per- 
son, not  of  inventive  or  original  genius*  but  of  clear 
discernment,  extensive  knowledge,  accurate  judg- 
ment, a  calm  temper,  a  modest  deportment,  an  up- 
right and  benevolent  heart,  and  a  habit  of  prudence 
and  diligence  in  discharging  the  various  duties  of 
publick  and  private  life."* 

Weld  Thomas,  first  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Roxbury,  came  from  a  town  called  Tirling,  in  Es- 
sex. Not  being  willing  to  submit  to  the  ceremo- 
nies, as  the  law  required,  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the 
place,  and  became  over  to  New  England,  in  the  year 
1632.  He  was  immediately  invited  to  settle  at  Rox- 
bury. He  was  a  man  of  very  considerable  talents, 
and  a  favourite  with  the  magistrates.  He  distin- 
guished himself  at  the  trial  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  be- 
ing one  of  her  principal  opposers,  and  afterwards 
wrote  a  book  to  expose  the  errors  of  those  secta- 
ries.t     In  Winthrop'b  journal  continual  mention  is 

*  Belknap's  history,  vol,  ii.  page  485. 
t  The  book  is  entitled,  "  short  story  of  tlie  rise,  reipjn  and  ruin 
of  theAniinomians,  Familists  and  Libertines,  that  infested  the 


WEN  ill 

tti^de  oF  the  calling  upon  ministers  for  advice, 
Wtld  was  always  present ;  hence  we  may  suppose 
him  a  very  prTadent  and  judicious  man,  as  well  as 
good  minister.  He  was  sent  agent  to  Great  Britain 
with  Hugh  Peters  in  1641,  and  never  returned. 
He  went  to  Ireland  with  lord  Forbes,  where  he  stay. 
ed  for  some  time,  and  then  returned  to  Jiis  parish, 
which  was  a  living,  in  the  bishoprick  of  Durham, 
from  which  he  was  ejected  in   1662. 

Wentworth  John,  lieut.  governour  of  New 
Hampshire,  was  the  son  of  William  Wentworth,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  the  country,  an  amiable,  pious, 
sensible  man,  who  was  a  ruling  elder,  and  adorned 
his  station  in  the  church.  The  son,  a  man  of 
enterprize  and  spirit,  was  commander  of  a  ship,  in 
the  early  part  of  his  life^  and  acquired  a  good  estate^ 
if  not  the  affluence  of  wealth.  He  lived  in  a  style 
of  elegance  beyond  his  neighbours^  and  was  moVe 
of  a  gentleman  in  his  manners,  was  popular  in  his 
address,  and  received  continual  marks  of  publick 
favour.  Having  been  5  years  a  counsellor,  he  was 
appointed  lieut.  governour.  His  commission  had 
annexed  to  it  the  name  of  Joseph  Addison,  who  was 
then  secretary,  17th  Dec.  1717.  The  people  were 
satisfied  with  his  administration.  They  thought 
him  more  wise  and  moderate  than  his  predecessors, 
and  more  attached  to  their  interest.  The  multitude 
soon  distinguish  between  men  whose  object  it  is  to 
make  the  most  of  an  office,  and  such  as  love  theif 
country,  or  have  an  eye  to  the  publick  good,  while 
they  are  willing  in  some  measure  to  serve  them- 
selves. Selfish  men  are  not  fit  for  publick  stations  ; 
yet  few  men  are  so  patriotick  as  to  sacrifice  their 

churches  of  New  Enghnd."  There  is  an  edition  of  it  in  4ion 
1692,  in  the  hbrary  of  Harvard  College.  His  other  works  were, 
an"  answer  to  W.  R.  his  narration  of  opinions  and  practices  of  the 
New  Kni^lctnd  churches,"  4to.  1644;  "  the  perfect  Pharisee  un- 
der monkish  holiness."  This  he  and  three  other  minister-.; 
wrote  in  1654.  It  was  levelled  against  the  Quakers;  and  af- 
terwards they  wrote  '*  the  false  Jew  detected,'^  Sec,  against  a  maii, 
who  pretended  to  be  first  a  Jew,  and  then  an  Anabaptist, 


478  WEN 

own  concerns  entirely.  The  general  asssembly 
made  frequent  grants  to  their  lieut.  governour,  be. 
lieving  him  to  be  upright,  and  that  he  made  every 
exertion  to  serve  the  province.  He  received  to- 
kens  of  affection  from  them  ;  but  an  alienation  hap- 
pened in  the  year  1728.  The  general  assembly  had 
continued  5  years.  It  was  dissolved  of  course  when 
king  George  I.  died.  .  A  new  assembly  being  call- 
ed, the  lieut.  governour,  not  satisfied  with  their  pro- 
ceedings, dissolved  them  by  his  authority,  which 
was  legal,  as  gov.  Burnet  had  not  yet  arrived  ;  but 
it  excited  acrimonious  feelings.  These  were  in- 
creased when  the  next  assembly  met,  and  he  nega- 
tived their  speaker,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Weare.  Nothing 
happened  in  this  dispute,  however,  to  make  him  fear- 
ful of  losing  his  office.  Their  opinions  varied,  and 
they  debated  with  some  temper.  His  conduct  was 
approved  by  Burnet  when  he  was  governour  of 
New  Hampshire  as  well  as  Massachusetts.  Mr.  W, 
had  the  misfortune  to  offend  gov.  Belcher,  who  was 
very  unreasonable  in  the  degree  of  his  resentment. 
The  lieut.  governour  had  written  letters  of  friend- 
ship to  Mr.  Shute  and  Mr.  Belcher  while  they 
were  in  England.  Belcher  received  his  letter,  and 
returned  his  attentions  when  he  came  to  New  Hamp- 
shire. But  upon  learning  that  he  made  the  same 
kind  of  address  to  Shute,  was  very  angry,  and  not 
only  refused  common  civilities,  but  made  use  of  his 
authority  to  lessen  the  importance  of  his  station. 
He  said  that  Wentworth  was  guilty  of  deception.  It 
was  only  that  kind  of  artifice  which  politicians  make 
use  of  to  preserve  their  places.  It  was  what  Belcher 
himself  had  practised  in  some  measure  to  get  the  gov- 
ernment of  Massachusetts,  and  what  his  enemies 
used  to  some  purpose,  when  they  effected  his  dis- 
missal from  his  government.  It  was  also  bad  policy 
on  this  account ;  he  put  all  Wentworth's  friends  in 
opposition  to  him,  who  might  have  been  of  great 
assistance  in  his  political  trials.  Mr.  Wentworth 
lived  not  long  after  Belcher  entered  on  his  govern- 


WEN  479 

n>ent.   He  died,  Dec.  12,  1730,  in  the  59th  year  of 
his  age.*     Belknap^s  history  of  A/e*w  Hampshire. 

Wentworth  Benning,  governour  of  Neiv 
Hampshire,  was  the  son  of  lieut.  governour  Went- 
worth, and  was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  where 
he  was  graduated,  in  1716.  He  turned  his  attention 
to  business,  and  was  an  eminent  merchant  in  Ports- 
mouth. He  was  sent  to  the  general  assembly,  as  one 
of  the  representatives,  and  advanced  to  a  seat  at  the 
council  board.  He  was  always  in  opposition  to 
Belcher,  during  his  whole  administration.  When. 
New  Hampshire  was  made  a  distinct  government 
he  was  promoted  to  the  chair  in  the  year  1741.  He 
did  many  things  to  render  himself  popular,  and  to 
promote  the  honour  of  the  station,  and  the  prosper- 
ity of  the  province.  A  ruler  in  a  popular  govern- 
ment may  always  expect  opposition.  If  he  act  from 
the  purest  motives,  he  will  meet  with  some  who  en- 
vy his  situation,  and  with  others  who  have  claims 
that  can  never  be  satisfied.  Belcher  had  also 
friends  ii^  New  Hampshire,  who  could  feel  no  very 
great  attachment  to  a  man  who  had  uniformly  found 
f^ult  with  his  measures.  The  enemies  of  gov.  Shir- 
ley were  scattered  through  the  New  England  pro- 
vinces. Wentworth  was  a  great  friend  to  him,  and 
this  excited  an  opinion,  that  he  approved  his  arbitra- 
ry measures.  He  was  a  zealous  episcopalian,  like- 
wise, which  caused  jealousies  among  those  who 
were  attached  to  the  form  and  discipline  of  the  New 
England  churches.  With  all  the  opposition  from 
political  or  religious  prejudices,  he  continued  his 
administration  longer  than  any  of  the  other  gover- 
nours.  This  office  he  resigned  in  the  year  1766^ 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  nephew,  whose  talents 
added  lustre  to  a  family  which  for  many  years  had 
been  the  most  brilliant  in  New  Hampshire,    and 


*  A  very  good  portrait  of  lieut.  governour  Wentworth  is  in  the 
room  of  the  historical  society.  It  wai  presented  by  his  grandson^ 
sir  Joha  Wentworth. 


480  WES 

whose  amiable  qualities  gained  him  the  love  as  well 
as  applause  of  all  classes  of  people. 

Gov.  B.  Wentworth  found  his  situation  very  un- 
pleasant and  his  seat  very  uneasy,  the  latter  part  of 
his  administration.  Such  mortifications  he  only 
shared  in  common  with  all  who  have  held  high  and 
important  stations  in  this  or  perhaps  any  country* 
Dr.  Belknap  observes,  that  '^  notwithstanding  some 
instances,  in  which  a  want  of  magnanimity  was  con, 
spicuous,  his  administration,  in  other  respects,  was 
beneficial.  Though  he  was  highly  censured  for 
granting  the  best  lands  of  the  p^^ovince  to  the  peo- 
ple of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  with  views 
of  pecuniary  reward,  yet,  the  true  interest  of  the 
country  was  certainly  promoted  ;  because  the  gran- 
tees, in  general,  were  better  husbandmen  than  the 
people  of  New  Hampshire. 

West  Samuel,  D.  D.  an  eminent  divine,  meta-. 
physical,  theological  and  controversial  writer,  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  the  year  1754. 
Some  years  after  he  left  Cambridge,  he  was  invited 
to  take  charge  of  the  church  at  Dartmouth.  The 
part  of  the  town  in  which  he  settled  has  since  taken 
the  name  of  New  Bedford.  He  was  a  very  extra- 
ordinary person  in  his  way,  and  his  name  certainly 
ought  to  be  recorded  in  every  book  of  American  bi- 
ography. His  mind  was  very  capacious  and  strong, 
bis  reading  extensive,  and  being  very  communica- 
tive, he  frequently  instructed  and  entertained  those 
who  desired  information  ;  his  company  was  also 
solicited  by  men  of  literary  taste  from  all  parts 
of  the  commonwealth.  He  was  peculiarly  fond  of 
associating  with  those  who  maintained  the  cause  of 
rational  religion  and  christian  liberty.  His  pulpit 
talents  alone  would  not  have  given  him  celebrity. 
He  had  a  commanding  voice,  but  knew  not  how  to 
modulate  it ;  his  attitude  and  manner  were  very 
uncouth,  and  he  would  never  attempt  to  touch  the 
passions.  His  common  discourses  were  carelessly 
written,  but,  upon  publick  occasions,  when  he  took 


WES  m 

pains  in  composinpj  them,  were  very  excellent.  He 
was  great  as  a  biblical  critick,  and  it  has  been  well 
observed,  that  with  the  same  advantages  he  *'  had 
fallen  little  short  of  Buxtorf,  Mede,Pool,  Kenicott," 
&c.*  In  politicks  he  was  a  zealous  whig,  and  had 
considerable  influence  in  the  section  of  the  province 
where  he  dwelt.  During  the*first  year  of  the  Amer- 
ican war  he  was  brought  into  general  notice  by  a 
particular  circumstance.  There  were  certain  letters 
intercepted  which  were  supposed  to  contain  a  secret 
and  criminal  correspondence  with  the  enemy.  He, 
being  a  curious  and  philosophical  man,  was  em- 
ployed  to  decipher  them.  It  was  acknowledged  by 
the  writer,  that  he  did  the  business  correctly.  H6 
was  chosen  to  preach  the  election  sermon,  in  1776. 
The  next  year,  1777,  he  preached  at  Plymouth, 
on  the  22d  of  December.  He  took  a  passage  froni 
the  Ixvi.  of  Isaiah,  '*  Shall  a  nation  be  born  at 
once  ?"  and  applied  it  to  the  independence  of  Amer- 
ica. Whether  the  novelty  of  the  sentiment,  or  the 
truth  of  the  prophecy  had  the  most  effect,  it  is  cer- 
tain, that  no  sermon  was  ever  more  the  subject  of 
praise.  No  person,  who  reads  the  discourse  at  tht 
present  day,  can  conceive  the  impressions  which 
were  then  made.  To  some,  however,  it  appeared 
a  playfulness  of  fancy  ;  but  to  him  every  thing  dei 
livered  was  a  solemn  reality.  He  was  so  tenacious 
of  his  opinion,  that  he  was  hurt  if  any  man  express^ 
ed  a  doubt  upon  the  subject.  When  the  conveni. 
tion  met  at  Cambridge  and  Boston,  to  form  a  con^ 
stitution  for  the  state,  he  was  a  leader  in  several  of 
the  debates ;  and  during  the  whole  session  was  a 
very  influential  and  important  member.  He  was  al- 
so a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  convention  which 
adopted  the  constitution  of  the  United  States.  He 
preached  the  Dudleian  lecture  upon  the  validity  of 
Presbyterian  ordination,  1782.  The  university 
presented  him  with  a  diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity, 

*  Anthology  for  March,  1808. 
3  o 


482  W  H  E 

1793.  He  was  one  of  the  original  memberg  of  the 
American  academy  of  arts  and  sciences,  and  an 
honorary  member  of  the  philosophical  society  ii^ 
Philadelphia.  The  oddities  of  this  good  man  have 
been  frequently  the  subject  of  remark,  and  have  ex- 
cited the  mirth  of  humourists.  In  his  days  of 
health  and  vigour  such  things  were  lost  amidst  the 
excellencies  of  his  character,  or  absorbed  in  the 
splendour  of  his  reputation  ;  but  in  his  latter  days 
all  his  foibles  were  spread  and  exaggerated.  His  old 
age  was  full  of  infirmities,  and  his  friends  could  on- 
ly look  with  pity  upon  the  relicks  of  a  mind  which 
was  once  so  superiour  as  to  command  admiration. 
He  departed  this  life,  Sept.  24,  1807.^ 

Wheelock  Eleazer,  D.  D  president  of  Dart- 
mouth College,  was  educated  at  Yale  College,  and  re- 
ceived the  honours  of  that  seminary,  1733.  He  was 
ordained  pastor  of  a  church  in  the  town  of  Lebanon ; 
was  a  minister  of  extraordinary  zeal  and  pious 
sentiment,  and  his  ministry  was  blessed  with  un- 
common success.  His  active  views  were  not  con- 
fined to  christian  churches,  although  great  revivals 
of  religion  took  place  during  the  course  of  his  min- 
istry, but  his  ardent  mind  was  employed  in  the  con- 
version of  the  aboriginals  of  the  land.  For  this  pur- 
pose he  opened  an  Indian  charity  school  in  which  a 
number  of  children  of  the  natives  might  be  educat- 
ed, and  become  missionaries  among  their  several 
tribes.  This  scheme  originated  with  Mr.  John 
Sargeant  at  Stockbridge,  who  begun  a  school,  and 
procured  assistance  from  many  well  disposed  and 
liberal  gentlemen.  He  died  in  1749,  before  his 
plan  was  accomplished.  Mr.  Wheelock  revived 
the  business,  and  called  it  Moore's  school,  in  hon- 
our to  the  name   of  its  greatest  benefactor,^     This 

•His  other  publications  were. beside  occasional  sermons, a  letter 
upon  infant  baptism  ;  essays  on  liberty  and  necessity.  To  these 
Dr.  b  dwards  replied  in  a  volume  very  a!)ly  written.  Dr  West 
thought  he  had  mistaken  his  meaning  in  some  passages,  and  had 
prepared  further  illustrations  of  the  subject,  but  did  not  live  to 
finish  the  work. 


VV  H  E  483 

school  was  kept  at  Lebanon  a  number  of  years. 
In  1770,  Dr.  Wheelock  removed  it  to  New 
Hampshire.  There  he  had  to  subdue  \ht  wilder- 
ness, and  to  instruct  Indian  youth.  Other  scholars 
were  added,  until  a  greater  number  of  missionaries 
were  prepared  from  the  English  than  the  Indians, 
From  this  institution  grew  a  flourishing  college, 
where  learned,  orthodox  ministers  were  qualifi- 
ed to  fill  vacant  churches.  It  is  now  a  univer- 
sity  in  high  reputation.  The  funds^  however, 
are  kept  separate.  The  money  raised  in  Scotland 
is  appropriated,  and  at  this  time  several  Indian 
youths  are  instructed  agreeably  to  what  was  express- 
ed in  the  foundation.  The  first  commencement  at 
Dartmouth  College,  was  held  in  1771.  The  rev. 
Dr.  Wheelock  died  in  1779,  aged  69.  His  son,  the 
hon.  John  Wheelock,  is  his  worthy  successor,  and 
also  professor  of  history. 

Wheelwright  John,  one  of  the  most  fa- 
mous men  in  the  beginning  of  the  plantations,  was 
brother  in  law  to  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and  of  the  same 
mind  concerning  justification,  though  he  did  not 
pretend  to  have  such  peculiar  revelations.  He  had 
a  more  correct  judgment,  but  not  much  greater 
stability.  He  was  much  attached  to  her,  and  was 
involved  in  her  sufferings.  In  1637,  he  was  ban- 
ished  the  colony,  having  preached  a  sermon  the 
year  before  at  Boston  which  gave  great  offence.  It 
was  pleasing  to  several  members  of  the  Boston 
church  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  one  of  the 
preachers.*  A  complaint  however  was  made  to  the 
general  court  of  some  things  he  delivered,as  tending 

*  Mr.  Wheelwright,  minister  to  a  branch  of  that  church,  at  a 
place  since  called  Braintree  (where  the  town  had  some  lands)  was 
eager  and  zealous  against  a  covenant  of  works  ;  and  was  banished 
by  the  court  for  what  was  called  sedition,  by  the  same  rule  which 
will  make  every  dissent  from,  or  opposition  to,  a  majority  in  any 
religious  affairs  to  be  sedition,  and  an  iniquity  to  be  punished  by 
the  judge.  The  minor  part  must  always  be  seditious,  if  it  be  se- 
dition to  defend  their  own  opinions,  Sec.  Calknder*s  centurtj 
sermon^ page  27. 


484  W  H  E 

to  sedition,  and  disturbance  of  the  plantation.  Mn 
W.  put  forth  a  reply  to  the  complaints  against  him, 
in  which  he  endeavoured  to  clear  the  doctrine  of  the 
sermon  from  sedition,  and  declared  he  only  meant 
to  explain  the  doctrine  of  grace.  Hubbard  says, 
"  that  in  this  he  differed  from  the  sermon,  and  was 
confuted  by  some  of  the  ministers  with  strong  ar- 
guments." But  it  seems  Mr.  Cotton  replied  to 
their  answer,  and  Mr.  Wheelwright  could  not  oe 
prevailed  upon  to  make  any  recantation  ;  \\hich 
might  have  saved  him  many  difficulties,  and  pre- 
vented the  division  of  the  colony.  Some  of  th^ 
Jnagistrates  signed  a  petition  in  favour  of  their  min- 
ister.  He  was  the  peculiar  friend  of  Mr.  Codding, 
ton,  also  of  Aspinwall  and  Coggeshall,  members  of 
the  general  court  from  Boston,  who  were  expelled 
the  house  for  signing  the  petition.  Hence  a  civil 
strife  was  consequent  upon  religious  contentions. 
It  was  this  which  gave  rise  to  a  new  settlement,  and 
a  new  government,  at  Rhode  Island.  Mr.  W.  after 
his  banishment  went  to  New  Hampshire,  and  laid 
the  foundation  of  the  town  and  church  at  Exeter. 
He  afterwards  went  to  Hampton,  and  thence  to 
Salisbury.  In  the  year  1644,  he  wrote  to  the  gov- 
ernour  of  Massachusetts,  made  an  acknowledgment 
of  his  offence,  and  was  restored  to  the  favour  of  the 
people.  It  has  always  seemed  very  strange,  that  he 
did  not  go  with  his  friends  to  Rhode  Island  iastead 
of  removing  to  New  Hampshire.  His  conduct  in 
Kew  Hampshire  discovered  an  ambitious  turn,  a 
desire  to  be  chief,  and  to  have  that  influence  over 
the  people  which  his  learning  and  abilities  gave  him 
some  claim  to  expect.  Hence  he  might  prefer  be- 
ing where  none  could  appear  in  competition  with 
him.  The  gentlemen  who  went  to  Rhode  Islancl 
were  shrewd,  sensible  men  ;  some  of  them  gifted 
brethren,  who  thought  themselves  superiour  to  their 
teachers.  In  1758,  Mr,  Wheelwright  Was  in  Eng- 
land, a  great  favourite  with  Cromwell  ;  he  then  cor- 
responded with  bis  friends  in  New  England.      A 


W  I  G  4«5 

letter  to  the  church  of  Hampton  is  preserved.  When 
he  returned  to  America  13  not  mentioned  ;  but  he 
lived  to  be  the  oldest  minister  in  New  England,  He 
died  in  1680,  leaving  children  who  were  highly  re- 
spectable for  their  character  and  stations.  His  son, 
grandson,  and  great  grandson  were  counsellors  of 
Massachusetts. 

WiGGLESwoRTH  Edward,  0.  D.  HoUis  pro- 
fessor  of  divinity  at  Harvard  College,  was  the  son  of 
Michael  Wigglesworth,  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Maiden,  who  was  graduated  in  1651,  and  was  also 
a  fellovv  of  the  corporation.  He  died  June  10,  1705> 
aged  74.  Among  his  publications  was  a  poem,  called 
the  *'  Day  of  Doom,"  which  has  been  celebrated  by 
good  people  in  New  England.  It  is  a  curious  and 
scarce  book.  His  son  Edward  was  graduated  ia 
1710,  and  deserves  a  place  in  the  highest  class  of 
his  contemporaries.  To  an  extensive  knowledge  in 
his  profession,  he  added  the  ornaments  of  classical 
literature.  He  was  also  as  remarkable  for  his  piety 
as  his  learning.  As  a  minister  of  a  particular  church 
he  might  not  have  shone  among  the  popular  preach- 
ers ;  but  he  was  completely  accomplished  for  the 
chair  of  divinity  professor.  As  soon  as  the  benev- 
olent and  pious  Mr.  HoUis  of  London  laid  a  found- 
dation  for  such  a  professorship  in  New  England,  the 
eyes  of  the  clergy  were  turned  towards  Mr.  Wig- 
glesworth. Dr.  Colman,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hollis, 
speaks  of  him,  '^  as  a  man  of  known  and  exemplary 
piety,  literature,  modesty,  meekness^  and  other 
christian  ornaments."  He  was  publickly  inducted 
into  his  office,  in  the  college  hall,  Oct.  24,  1722, 
and  in  1724,  elected  a  member  of  the  corporation. 
The  university  of  Edinburgh  presented  him  with  a 
diploma  of  doctor  in  divinity  in  the  year  1730.  He 
was  elected  rector  of  Yale  College,  bnt  declined 
on  account  of  his  deafness  which  also  unfitted  him 
to  shine  in  conversation,  for  which  he  had  fine  ta- 
lents. On  this  account,  however,  he  paid  more  at- 
tention  to  his  studies,  and  his  lectures  were  hUed 


486  WIG 

with  arguments,  excellent  thoughts,  liberal  views 
of  the  christian  doctrines,  and  just  discrimination 
of  the  contested  points.  His  polemical  pieces  gave 
him  a  high  reputation  abroad,  as  well  as  in  New 
England.  The  Whitefieldian  controversy  employed 
the  pens  of  several  divines,  some  of  whom  exposed 
his  vanity  and  enthusiasm,  which  he  had  enough  of 
when  he  was  a  young  man,  as  he  afterwards  confess- 
ed ;  none  wrote  in  such  an  engaging  and  interestiaig 
manner  as  professor  Wigglesworth.  He  wrote  in 
an  animated  and  nervous  style,  and  mingled  the 
glow  of  resentment  with  a  delicate,  satirical  mode 
of  reproving  a  man  who  had  endeavoured  to  blast 
the  reputation  of  an  institution,  which  he  knew  no- 
thing about.  Dr.  Wigglesworth  wrote  his  answer  to 
Mr.  Whitefield's  reply  to  the  college  testimony,  in 
1745.  In  1754,  he  preached  two  lectures  upon  '*  the 
distinguishing  characters  of  the  ordinary  and  extra- 
ordinary ministers  of  Christ."  These  were  occa- 
sioned by  Mr.  Whitefield's  preachhig  at  Cambridge, 
and  were  printed  at  the  request  of  the  students.* 

The  latter  years  of  Dr.  Wiggles  worth's  life  were 
years  of  infirmity  and  pain.  He  was  patient  and  sub- 
missive, an  example  to  those  who  highly  estimated 
his  character.  He  died,  January  19,  1765,  in  the 
73d  year  of  his  age. 

Wigglesworth  Edward,  D.  D.  son  of  the 
first  Hollis  professor  of  divinity,  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College,  1749  ;  was  tutor  when  his  father 
died,  and  chosen  to  succeed  him  in  the  professor- 
ship. He  was  a  learned  man,  and  very  much  at- 
tached to  the  interests  of  the  college.  Upon  the 
death  of  Dr.  Winthrop,  in  1779,  he  was  elected  fel- 
low of  the  corporation.  When  the  society  in  Scot- 
land for  propagating  the  gospel  among  the   Indians 

*  Other  printed  works  of  Dr.  W.  are,  lectures  upon  the  punish^ 
ment  of  the  wicked  ;  on  the  innputation  of  Adam's  p^uilt ;  upLii 
reprobation;  inspiration  of  the  O  T.  trial  of  the  spiriis  ;  Dudle- 
ian  lecture,  upon  the  infallibility  of  the  church  of  Rome  ;  also  a 
sermon  on  the  deatii  of  president  Wadsworth, 


W I L  487 

ill  North  America,  established  a  corresponding 
board  in  Boston,  he  was  chosen  secretary.  He  re- 
ceived a  diploma  of  doctor  of  divinity  from  the  uni- 
versity of  Harvard  in  the  year  1786. 

Dr.  Wigglesworth  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  American  academy  of  arts  and  sciences. 

Being  unable  to  attend  his  professional  duties  by 
reason  of  paralytical  affections,  which  greatly  debil- 
itated his  mind  and  body,  he  resigned  his  professor- 
ship in  1791.  But  the  legislature  of  the  college  con- 
tinued him  as  professor  emeritus  till  his  death,  iu 
1794. 

He  published,  in  the  year  1775,  *' calculations  on 
American  population,  with  a  table  for  estimating  the 
annual  increase,"  &c.  He  printed  two  ser- 
mons, one  ''upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Winthrop;"  the 
other  was  the  Dudleian  lecture  "  against  the  errors 
of  the  church  of  Rome,"   1786. 

WiLLARD  Samuel,  pastor  of  the  Old  South 
church  in  Boston,  and  vice  president  of  Harvard 
College,  was  one  of  the  most  celebrated  divines  of 
Massachusetts.  His  descent  was  honourable.  His 
father  was  a  member  of  the  council,  and  at  the  head 
of  the  militia.*  He  sent  his  son  to  Harvard  Col- 
lege, that  he  might  receive  a  liberal  education.  His 
genius  was  uncommon,  and  he  made  such  progress 
in  his  studies,  as  gave  lively  hopes  of  future  useful- 

*  In  1654,  major  Simon  Willard  commanded  the  army  sent 
against  the  Narragansetts,  The  commissioners  of  the  united 
colonies  agreed  to  raise  270  foot  and  40  horse.  The  Indians, 
with  Nini^ret  their  sachem,  retired  into  a  swamp.  Willard  did 
not  think  it  prudent  to  attack  them  in  that  situation,  and  the  for- 
ces returned  with  no  other  success,  than  taking  a  few  Pequods 
who  had  been  with  the  other  Indians  after  the  destruction  of  their 
tribe.  The  commissioners  ^yere  displeased  with  this  retreat,  and 
charged  Willard  with  neglecting  an  opportunity  of  humbling  the 
pride  of  Ninigret,  which  had  always  been  insufferable,  and  would 
now  be  increased.  Hutchinson  observes,  that  major  Willard,  be- 
ing a  Massachusetts  man,  might  comply  with  the  views  of  the 
colony.  They  were  averse  from  a  war  with  the  Indians,  or 
Dutch.  It  was  the  second  time  of  their  preventing  an  open  war,, 
contrary  to  the  minds  of  six  commissioners.  The  court  acted 
with  more  policy,  than  honour  and  justice. 


4S8  W  I  L 

ness.  He  was  settled  in  the  first  place  at  Groton^ 
an  obscure  situation  for  a  man  of  such  p:reat  abili- 
ties, wlx)  was  not  only  a  profound  scholar,  but 
an  eloquent  speaker,  possessing  every  qualification 
necessary  to  give  a  great  man  a  splendid  reputation. 
The  place  where  he  dwelt  being  destroyed  by  the 
Indians,  and  the  fiock  of  which  he  was  pastor  scat- 
tered in  the  wilderness, he  was  invited  to  fix  his  sta- 
tion in  the  metropolis,  where  he  became  a  great 
blessinf^  to  the  churches,  and  of  eminent  service  to 
the  college.  *^  The  providence  that  occasioned  his 
removal  to  this  place,"  says  his  eulogist,  *'  was  an 
awful  judgment  upon  the  whole  land  ;  yet  was  even- 
tually a  mercy  in  this  respect,  that  it  made  way  for 
the  translation  of  this  bright  star  to  a  more  conspic- 
uous orb,  where  his  influence  was  more  extensive 
and  beneficial ;  and  in  this  it  was  a  great  blessing 
to  this  congregation-,  to  this  town,  and  to  all  New 
England.  His  common  sermons  might  have  been 
pronounced  with  applause,  before  an  assembly  of 
the  greatest  divines."*  But  as  a  writer  he  has  been 
inore  known  to  the  succeeding  generations.  He  was 
fond  of  publishing  his  works,  and  was  called  upon 
on  all  great  occasions  to  deliver  his  sentiments  front 
the  pulpit.  No  divine,  except  Dr.  Cotton  Mather, 
in  this  country  prepared  more  works  for  the  press ; 
and  they  were  all  calculated  to  do  honour  to  the  au- 
thor, and  edify  pious  people.  He  died  in  the  68th 
year  of  his  age,  Sept.  12,  1707,  having  been  minis- 
ter of  the  third  church  in  Boston  from  April  10, 
1678.t 

•  Pemberton*s  discourses,  page  137. 
t  His  works  are  numerous.  In  1673,  he  published  three  ser- 
mons, containing  useful  instruction  for  a  professing  people  ;  the 
artillery  election  sermon,  1676  ;  a  funeral  sermon  on  gov.  Leve^ 
rett,  1679  ;  animadversions  upon  the  Haptists,  1681.  From  this 
time  to  1690,  about  20  sermons,  or  tracts.  In  1682,  miscellanea 
ous  observations  on  witchcraft,  in  a  dialogue  between  S.  and  B.  ; 
in  1693,  the  covenant  of  redemption,  and  rules  for  discerning  the 
times;  in  1694,  the  election  sermon  ;  and  artillery  election  serr 
mon  in  1699.  The  same  year,  a  course  of  sermons  upon  spirit- 
ual devotions  ;  in  1700,  a  volume  of  sermons  on  the  blessed  rnanj 


W  1  L  489 

WiLLARD  JosiAH,  Secretary  of  the  province  of 
Massachusetts   bay,    sou   of  that  famous    divine, 
Mr.   Samuel  Willard,  was  born  in   Boston.      He 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,    1698.      The 
next  year  he  was  chosen  tutor,   and  continued  in 
that  office  till  he  entered  oii  his  travels.     Having 
visited  several  parts  of  the  West  Indies,  and  Eu- 
rope, he  returned  to  his  own  country,  improved  in 
mind  and  manners.       His  piety  gave  a  lustre  to 
his  moral  character,  and  he  appeared  with  the  dig- 
nity, grace  and  politeness  of  the  gentleman  in  his 
private  walk,   and   in  every  publick  station.       In 
17 17  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  province  ;  in 
1731,  judge  of  probate  ;  in  1734  he  was  elected  one 
of  his  majesty's  council.     He  resigned  most  of  his 
publick  offices  as  he  grew  into  the  vale   of  years ; 
but  continued  to  do   his  duty  as  secretary  till  his 
death.     He  departed  this  life,  Dec.  6,  1756,  in  the 
76th  year  of  his  age.     Dr.  Sewall,  and  Mr.  Prince, 
each  printed  a  funeral  sermon  upon  the  occasion,  in 
which  his  character  is  fully  delineated.    These  gen- 
tlemen  were  intimately  acquainted  with  him ;   Mr. 
Prince  had  been  his  pupil. 

Williams  Roger,  minister  of  the  gospel,  and 
governour  of  the  Providence  plantations,  was  born 
in  Wales,  and  educated  at  the  university  of  Oxford. 
He  was  a  minister  of  the  church  of  England  before 
he  came  to  Boston,  but  disliking  the  form  and  gov- 
ernment of  the  episcopal  church,  he  left  his  native 
country,  and  came  into  this  American  wilderness. 
Here  he  expected  to  enjoy  liberty  of  thinking,  and 

and  a  number  of  single  sermons  on  particular  texts  of  scripture^ 
for  particular  occasions  ;  in  1701,  a  number  of  seripons  upon  Sa- 
tan's temptations;  two  upon  brotherly  love,  &c. ;  in  1703,abrief 
reply  to  George  Keith  ;  in  1704,  a  sermon,  Romans  viii  31  ;  in 
1706,  the  just  man's  prerogative,  a  sermon,  Prov.  xii.  21. 

His  posthumous  works  are,  a  thanksgiving  sermon  upon  the 
return  of  a  young  gentleman  from  his  travels,  1709  ;  sacramen- 
tal meditations,  a  volume,  1711;  in  1726,  the  body  of  divinity, 
being  250  lectures  upon  the  assembly's  shorten'  catechism,  which 
is  a  very  complete  view  of  the  doctrine  pf  the  New  Englancj^ 
churches. 

3  p 


490  W  I  L 

acting,  without  any  peculiar  restraint  from  the  civil 
power.  He  was  then  a  young  man,  singular  in  his 
notions,  and  fond  of  manifesting  his  singularities. 
He  arrived  at  Boston,  Feb.  1631,  and  from  this 
place  went  to  Plymouth,  where  he  resided  two  years, 
and  spake  freely  his  sentiments  upon  religion,  with- 
out offending  the  brethren  of  that  church.  He  was 
peculiarly  gifted  as  a  preacher,  and  was  Vvilling  that 
they  should  speak  at  publick  and  private  meetings; 
hence  they  were  always  attached  to  him,  and  were 
ready  to  help  him  in  the  time  of  his  greatest  neces- 
sities. He  was  not  willing  to  settle  with  the  church 
at  Plymouth,  but  went  to  Salem,  while  Mr.  Skel- 
ton  was  living,  in  whose  pulpit  he  prophecied,  ac- 
cording  to  the  language  of  the  times,  when  a  man 
preached  who  had  not  been  inducted  into  the  office 
of  pastor  or  teacher.  The  church  of  Salem  invited 
him  to  be  their  pastor  when  Mr.  Skelton  died. 
This  gave  offence  to  the  government  of  the  colony. 
It  was  the  opinion  of  the  ministers  of  the  bay,  that 
if  Mr.  W.  was  allowed  to  propagate  his  opinions, 
the  churches  might  run  into  heresy  and  apostacy, 
and  the  people  defy  the  civil  magistrate.  The 
church  of  Salem  was  censured,  as  well  as  their 
teacher.  When  the  court  met,  he  was  ordered  to 
appear  before  them.  He  was  charged  with  writing 
tw^o  letters.  One  to  the  churches,  complaining  of 
the  magistrates  for  i?ijustice  and  extreme  oppressiouy 
&CC.  the  other  to  his  own  church,  persuading  them 
to  renounce  communion  with  all  the  cJiurches  in  the 
hay,  because  they  were  filled  with  antichristian  pol- 
lution, &:c.  He  justified  these  letters,  maintained  his 
opinions,  and  offered  to  defend  them  in  a  publick 
dispute.  Mr.  Hooker  was  chosen  to  confer  with 
him,  but  could  not  convince  him  of  his  errors.  He 
was  ordered  to  depart  from  the  jurisdiction  in  six 
weeks.  The  church  at  Salem  acknowledged  their  fault 
in  joiningtheir  voice  with  Mr.  W.  in  the  letter  he  sent 
to  the  churches.  The  banishment  of  Mr.  W.  was  in 
1635.     He  went  to  Secunke,  now  called  Rehoboth. 


W  I  L  491 

He  afterwards  fixed  upon  Mooshausick.  which  he 
named  Providence,  which  is  now  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  places  in  New  England.  Strangers  often 
seek  the  spot  where  Roger  Williams  fixed  his  humble 
dwelling,  and  drink  at  the  spring,  which  ran  before 
his  door,  where  he  slacked  his  thirst  during  his 
weariness  and  perils.  A  very  odd  w^ay  of  shewing 
respect  to  the  memory  of  this  uncommon  man,  who 
was  poor,  and  altogether  spiritual  in  his  views,  is 
now  discovered  by  the  people  of  that  town.  One 
of  the  Providence  banks  is  named  '*  Roger  Wil- 
liams' bank."  In  1637,  Mr.  Williams  was  em- 
ployed by  the  government  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
their  agent  in  the  business  they  transacted  with  the 
Indian  tribes.  His  conduct  was  marked  with  fidel- 
ity, disinterestedness  and  wisdom.*  Gov.  Win- 
throp  was  a  friend  to  him  after  thisc  His  former  as- 
sociates respected  his  talents  and  integrity,  though 
they  still  blamed  him  for  his  bigotry,  pride  and  sin- 
gularity. He  had  the  entire  confidence  of  the  In- 
dian sachems. 

From  this  time  we  are  to  view  Mr.  W.  as  a  dif- 
ferent character  from  what  he  was  w^hen  teacher  of 
a  particular  congregation  in  Salem ;  or  would  have 
been,  had  he  continued  in  Massachusetts  among  the 
pastors  of  the  churches.  His  sphere  of  usefulness 
was  very  extensive,  and,  where  religious  opinions 
had  no  influence,  he  conducted  wisely,  and  beyond 
what  could  be  expected  from  a  man,  who  had 
*shown  such  strange  prejudices,  and  whose  educa- 
tion gave  him  but  little  knowledge  of  the  world. 
We  are  to  view  him,  as  the  father  of  one  of  the  pro- 
vinces, and  a  writer  in  favour  of  civil  and  religious 
freedom,  more  bold,  just,  and  liberal,  than  any 
other,  who  appeared  in  that  generation. 

Many  would  smile  at  seeing  the  name  of  Roger 
Williams  enrolled  with  the  legislators  of  ancient 
times,  or  with  the  statesmen  of  modern  Europe,  or 

«  For  the  details  of  Mr.  Williams's  life,  stQ  historical  collec- 
tions, vol.  X.  pages  17,  18,  19,  20,&:c. 


49^  W  I  L 

-with  such  a  man  as  Penn,  the  proprietor  of  Peniu 
sylvaniaj  whose  steps  were  more  majestick  upon 
the  theatre  of  the  great  world.  But  this  man  was 
equal  to  conducting  the  affairs  of  this  infant  colony 
as  well  as  if  a  complete  system  of  legislation  was 
formed  ;  and,  as  a  mediator  between  the  aboriginals 
and  the  English  inhabitants,  if  he  were  the  instru- 
ment of  preserving  peace,  of  teaching  the  Indians 
some  of  the  arts  of  life,  and  of  illuminating  the 
minds  of  the  heathen  with  the  light  of  Christianity ^ 
he  is  certainly  worthy  of  more  credit,  than  some 
mighty  hunters  of  the  earth,  or  those  sages,  whose 
maxims  have  made  men  fierce  and  revengeful,  and 
caused  human  blood  to  flow  in  streams. 

He  was  very  instrumental  in  settling  Rhode- 
Island,  or  procuring  the  grant  of  land,  which  Mr. 
Coddington  and  others  had  chosen  for  their  planta- 
tion, when  they  left  Boston.  The  historian  of  that 
colony  has  favoured  us  with  a  ms.  of  his,  which  he 
says  is  in  perpetuam  rei  memoriam. 

In  1643,  Mr.  Williams  went  to  England  asagent^ 
and  it  was  there,  by  the  assistance  of  Vane,  he  ob- 
tained "  a  charter  of  civil  incorporation  by  the  name 
of  Providence  plantations  in  the  Aarraganset  bay  of 
jVew  England,"*^  It  was  dated  7th  of  March  ;  which 
form  of  government  subsisted  till  1651.  Then  up- 
on differences,  they  sent  their  former  agent^  and^ 
joined  Mr.  Clarke  with  him,  who  transacted  the  bu-' 
siness  to  the  advantage  of  the  colony,  and  the  satis- 
faction of  a  large  majority  of  the  people. 

Roger  Williams  lived  to  a  great  age.  He  died ^ 
i682,  48  years  after  his  banishment.  The  various 
scenes  of  his  life  did  not  make  him  alter  his  senti- 
ments on  religious  freedom  ;  and  his  latitudinarian 
principles  had  no  ill  effect  in  plantations  where  there 
was  no  church  rule  or  authority.* 

*  Tbe  first  of  Mr.  Williams's  publications  was  a  dialogue  bC" 
tween  Truth  and  Ftacej  a  book  of  247  pages,  printed  in  London, 
1644. 

it  required  great  boldness  of  thinking,  and  uncommon  abilities^ 


W  I  L  493 

Williams  Johi*,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Deer- 
field,  was  the  son  of  Mr.  Samuel  Williams  of 
Roxbury.  He  was  born  1664,  was  graduated 
1683,  and  ordained  in  1686.  The  town  being 
among  the  frontier  settlements,  was  continually 
exposed  to  the  incursions  of  the  French  and  In- 
dians. In  1704  a  party  of  savages  destroyed  the 
place,  and  carried  Mr.  Williams  and  his  family 
through  a  wilderness  of  300  miles.      They  killed 


to  write  this  work.  Here  are  disclosed  sentiments  which  have 
been  admired  in  the  writings  of  Milton  and  Furneaux.  His  ideas 
of  toleration  he  carried  further  than  Mr.  Locke,  but  not  beyond 
the  generality  of  dissenters  in  England.  The  book  wgfe  answered 
by  Mr.  Cotton,  whose  zeal  and  knowledge  would  give  him  a  name 
among  christian  worthies  in  any  age  of  the  church,  and  who  was 
the  most  distinguished  of  the  clergy  in  Massachusetts.  But  so 
far  from  supposing  himself  confuted,  Mr.  Williams  repHed  with 
great  spirit  and  argument,  which  reply  has  been  since  published^ 
together  with  Mr.  Cotton's  attack  upon  him,  which  he  called  the 
Bloody  Tenent^  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamby  in  allusion  to  the 
first  writing  of  Mr.  Williams,  which  he  styled  The  Bloody  Tenenty 
(br  Dialogue  betiveen  Truth  and  Peace^  meaning  that  the  idea  of  the 
interference  of  the  magistracy^  in  matters  of  religion^  is  a  bloody  te^ 
nent. 

The  title  of  another  book  is,  George  Fox  digged  out  of  his  bur- 
ronvs^  Isfc.  by  Roger  Williams,  The  answer,  a  New  England 
fire-brand  quenched,  being  an  answer  to  a  lying,  slanderous  bo(  k, 
&c.  by  one  Roger  Williams,  confuting  his  blasphemous  asser- 
tions, by  George  Fox  and  John  Burnyeat.  These  controversial 
pieces  were  printed  about  the  years  1676 — 1 678,  and  the  con- 
tents of  a  large  volume  are  sirnilaf  to  the  title  pages. 

Many  tracts  are  ascribed  to  Mr.  WiUiams  as  a  writer.  He 
wrote  letters  to  individuals  of  his  acquaintance,  and  to  gentlemen 
in  office,  which  are  among  the  most  valuable  antiquarian  stores  ; 
some  of  them  very  curious  and  rare. 

It  is  a  desirable  object  to  collect  the  mss.  of  Mr.  Williams.  He 
I'nentions  receiving  scores  of  letters  from  his  excellent  friend  gov. 
Winthrop.  Doubtless  there  are  many  letters  of  his  writing,  as 
well  as  his  correspondents,  which  would  be  accounted  precious 
by  those  who  desire  to  know  the  history  of  their  own  country. 

A  most  valuable  book  was  published  by  the  subject  of  this  me- 
moir, upon  the  language  of  sauvage  America.  It  is  called  a  Key 
to  the  language  of  the  Indians  of  Afew  England.  It  was  printed 
in  1643,  in  a  small  duodecimo  volume.  The  original  is  in  the  U- 
l^Tary  of  the  historical  society  ;  and  most  of  the  contents  have 
'b(^en  published  in  their  collection^. 


494  W  I  L 

his  wife,  two  children,  and  two  servants.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Montreal,  then  to  Quebec,  and  in 
1706,  returned  home,  with  other  captives,  to  the 
number  of  57.  Mr.  Williams  was  again  .settled  at 
Deerfield,  where  he  lived  till  the  year  1729.  He 
died  suddenly  of  the  apoplexy,  in  the  month  of 
June,  aged  65.  He  was  a  pious  and  worthy 
man.  His  natural  vivacity  of  temper,  his  vii^^ourous 
mind,  and  firm  constitution, fitted  him  for  his  situa- 
tion, where  he  had  to  endure  trials  of  the  heart,  as 
well  as  those  trials  which  are  common  to  men,  aiid 
ministers.  One  of  his  children  was  brought  up 
among  the  Indians,  and  never  could  be  persuaded 
to  leave  her  wandering  life.  She  married  and  pass- 
ed her  days  in  Canada.  He  left  3  sons  who  were 
favoured  with  a  college  education,  and  settled  in  the 
ministry.*  His  wife,  who  was  killed  by  the  Indians, 
was  the  daughter  of  E.  Mather,  the  first  miriister  of 
Northampton,  and  grand-daughter  of  the  famous 
John  Warham,  who  came  to  Dorchester  in  1630. 

Williams  Nathaniel,  preceptor  of  the  south 
grammar  school,  Boston,  was  the  son  of  very  re- 
spectable parents,  who  gave  him  a  college  educa- 
tion with  a  view  of  his  becoming  a  minister  of  the 
gospel ;  and  to  this  he  was  early  inclined.  He  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1693  ;  and,  in  July, 
1698,  was  ordained  an  evangelist  for  one  of  the 
West  India  Islands.  The  climate  was  unfriendly  to 
his  constitution,  and  he  soon  returned  to  his  native 
town.  Being  an  excellent  classical  scholar,  he  was 
chosen  successor  to  the  celebrated  master  Cheev- 
er  in  the  publick  and  free  grammar  school,  "  the 
principal  school,"  says  Mr.  Prince,  *'  of  the  British 
colonies,  if  not  of  all  America."  He  continued  from 
the  year  1703  to  1734  a  very  useful  instructor,  when 

*  His  publications  were,  the  redeemed  captive  returning^  to 
Zion,  as  a  history  of  his  captivity,  1706  ;  also  a  sermon  preach- 
ed the  same  year  at  the  Boston  lecture,  Psalm  cvii.  13,  14,  15  ; 
of  these,  the  fourth  edition  was  printed,  1793  ;  the  convention 
sermon,  1728. 


W  I  L  495 

his  age  and  infirmities  obliged  him  to  resign  his  of- 
fice. His  assistant,  Mr.  Lovell,  was  then  placed  in 
the  chair.  When  he  was  in  the  West  Indies  he 
applied  his  mind  to  the  study  of  physick,  and  enter- 
ed into  the  profession  after  he  came  to  Boston. 
Those  who  employed  him,  persuaded  him  not  to 
leave  his  line  of  business,  when  he  took  the  gram- 
mar school.  He  visited  many  families,  and  when 
he  gave  up  the  school,  passed  the  latter  years  of  his 
life  in  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He  was  called 
*'  the  beloved  physician,"  and  was  so  agreeable  in 
his  manners,  that,  when  he  entered  into  the  chambers- 
of  the  sick,  *'  his  voice  and  countenance  did  good, 
like  a  medicine."  It  revived  die  spirits,  and  light- 
ened the  maladies.  Amidst  the  multiplicity  of  his 
business,  as  a  publick  instructor,  and  a  physician  in 
extensive  practice,  he  never  left  the  ministerial  ivork. 
He  preached  occasionally,  and  his  prayers  and  ser- 
mons were  highly  acceptable  to  the  pious  and  judi- 
cious. 

He  was  very  much  attached  to  the  religious  prin- 
ciples and  manners  of  New  England.  *'  The  gra- 
ces ot  the  gospel  seemed  to  shine  in  his  countenance 
and  conversation,  and  he  was  one  of  the  most  use- 
ful men  in  the  town  and  land."  He  died,  Jan.  10, 
1737,  8,  aged  63,  There  is  no  publication  with  his 
name,  except  a  pamphlet  upon  '*  inoculation  for  the 
small  pox."  This  was  printed  when  the  publick 
mind  was  so  much  agitated  about  introducing  the 
practice.  One  of  the  satirical  pamphlets  of  the 
times  introduced  him  with  Boylston  and  Douglass 
in  a  conversation  which  brought  forward  all  the  ar- 
guments for  and  against  it.  The  book  is  entitled, 
*'  Mundungus,  Sawney,  Academicus,  a  debate, 
1721."     Princess  sermon, 

Williams  Elisha,  rector  of  Yale  College,  was 
the  son  of  the  rev.  William  W^illiams  of  Hatfield. 
Thefatlier,who  vvasone  oftlie  most  eminent  clergymen 
in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  was  graduated  in  1683, 
and  died  in  1753,      He  preached  the  election  ser- 


496  W  I  L 

mon  in  1719.  He  also  printed  a  VQlume  of  ser 
mons  in  12mo.  on  Heb.  ii.  3.  The  preface  was 
written  by  Dr.  Colman,  who  speaks  highly  of  the 
writer.  Rector  WilUanis  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College  in  1711.  He  was  ordained  over  a 
church  in  Weathersfipld,  Connecticut,  and  intro- 
duced to  the  chair  of  Vale  College.  Sept.  1716.  He 
resigned  his  office  in  1739,  on  account  of  his  ill 
state  of  health.  He  reformed  the  college  very  m^ch, 
and  advanced  useful  and  polite  literature. 

In  1745,  he  went  as  chaplain  to  the  Connecticut 
forces  upon  the  expedition  to  Cape  Breton.  The 
next  year  he  had  a  colonel's  commission  given  to 
him,  when  an  expedition  to  Canada  was  formed. 
He  made  a  conspicuous  figure  after  he  went  into  the 
civil  line.  Being  speaker  of  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives, he  displayed  so  great  talents  that  he  was  sent 
to  Great  Britain,  as  agent  for  the  colony.  While  he 
was  in  England,  he  married  a  most  amiable  lady 
wuth  whom  he  lived  happily  till  his  death,  in  1,755. 
He  died  at  Weather sfie Id,  July  24,  etat.  61.* 

Wilson  John,  first  pastor  of  the  church  in  Bos- 
ton, was  the  son  of  Dr.  William  Wilson,  prebend 
of  Rochester.  His  mother  was  niece  of  Dr.  Ed- 
rnund  Grindal,  the  renowned  archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury. He  was  born  at  Windsor,  had  a  pious  edu- 
cation, and  made  considerable  progress  in  classical 
learning  at  school  and  at  college.  He  was  4  years 
at  Eaton,  and  during  this  time  was  directed  to  speak 
a  latin  oration,  when  the  duke  de  Biron,  minister 
from  Henry  IV.  visited  the  schools  ;  for  which  the 
duke  bestowed  3  angels  upon  him.  He  was  ad- 
rnitted  into  King's  College,  Cambridge,  1602.  His 
prejudices  were  strong  against  the  Puritans  till  he 

*  In  1744,  Mr.  Williams  wrote  a  pamphlet  in  66  pages,  4to, 
entitled,  "  the  essential  rights  and  liberties  of  protestants  ;  "or,  ^ 
letter  from  a  gentleman  in  Massachusetts  to  his  friend  in  Con-' 
necticut,  wherein  "  some  thoughts  on  the.origin,  end,  and  extent 
of  the  civil  power,  with  brief  considerations  on  several  late  law^ 
in  Connecticut,  are  humbly  offered  bv  a  lover  of  truth  and  liber-? 


W  I L  497 

read  the  work  of  Mr.  Richard  Rogers,  called  the 
se'oen  treatises.      He  afterwards,  by  the  advice  of 
Dr.  Ames,  joined  a  pious  company  at  the  university, 
who  held  conferences  upon  religious  subjects.    He 
studied  diligently  thp  controversy  between  the  epis^ 
copal  church  and  the  puritans,  and  became  convinced, 
that  he  ought  not  to  conform  to  the  rites  and  cere- 
monies of  the  church  of  England.     For  this  he  was 
expelled  the  university.    When  his  father  could  not 
persuade  him  to  alter  his  views  of  religion,   he  ad- 
vised him  to  enter  the  inns  of  the  conn.     By  the  in- 
fluence of  the  earl  of  Northampton,   chancellor  of 
the  university,  he  afterwards  received  his  degree  at 
Cambridge.    When  he  began  to  preach,  he  had  fre- 
quent invitations  to  take  the  charge  of  a  church  ;  but 
as  frequently  was   complained   of  to   the  spiritual 
courts,  and  silenced.    The  earl  of  Warwick  was  his 
friend,  and  by  his  influence  he  obtained  leave  to  ex- 
ercise his  ministry.      In   the  year  1629,  when  the 
plantation  of  a  new  colony  was  begun,  Mr,  W.  was 
invited  to  join  them,  and  embarked  in  the  fleet 
which  came  here  in  1630.     When  he  arrived  at  Sa- 
lem he  was  about  42  years  old  ;   but  had  a  large 
share  of  health  and  vigour.      He  was  able  to  assist 
his  brethren  under  the  difficulties  of  a  new  planta- 
tion, "  the  main  design  of  which  was,  to  settle  the 
ordinances  of  the  gospel,  and  worship  Christ  accord- 
ing to  his  own  institutions."     The  next  month  af- 
ter their  arrival,   they  organized  their  church  in 
Charlestown.      He   was  installed   teacher   of  this 
church,    August  27,    1650.      Afterwards  he  was 
chosen  pastor  of  the  church  in  Boston,  and  separat- 
ed to  the   charge,  Nov.   22,    1632,       They  were 
careful  to  mention  that,  althoiigh  they  used  imposi- 
tion of  hands,  it  was  only  a  sign  of  election,  and  not 
^^^  that  he  renounced  the  orduiation  he  received  in  Enl 
^^  gland.      In  the  dispute,  which  divide4  the  Boston 
^church,  Mr.  Wilson  and  gov.  Winthrop  were  on  onQ 
4|  side.     Most  of  the  church,  with  their  teacher,  Mrl 
Cotton,  were  of  a  different  opinion,  and  were  like- 

3  (^ 


498  WIL 

wise  strengthened  by  the  authority,  talents  and  fa^ 
iiatical  zeal  of  sir  Henry  Vane.  Mr.  Wilson  threw 
all  his  influence  in  favour  of  gov.  Winthrop  at 
the  next  election.  He  even  stood  upon  a  tree,  and 
spoke  to  the  people.  Upon  this-occasion  he  disco- 
vered  much  spirit,  though  his  general  character  was 
that  of  a  mild  and  moderate  man.  He  was  very  af- 
fable in  speech,  and  condescending  in  his  deportment. 
He  yielded  to  the  superiour  and  more  overbearing 
influence  of  the  great  Cotton  in  every  thing,  except 
in  this  Antin.omian  controversy,  and  in  giving  the 
government  to  Winthrop.  He  lived  to  be  an  old 
man,  and  followed  to  the  grave  both  Cotton  and 
Norton. 

When  Mr.  Norton  returned  from  England,  good 
Mr.  Wilson  censured  him  for  his  conduct.  He  and 
elder  Penn,  in  the  name  of  themselves  and  others, 
acquainted  him,  that  an  assistant  must  be  chosen, 
Mr.  Allen  had  preached,  and  the  people  were  much 
captivated  with  him.  Mr.  Norton,  however,  had 
his  friends,  and  they  increased,  though  the  general- 
ity of  his  flock  had  their  prejudices  against  him. 

Mr.  Wilson  preached  his  last  sermon  at  Roxbu- 
ry  lecture  for  his  son  in  law,  Mr.  Danforth ;  and 
died  August  7,  1667,  in  the  7yth  year  of  his  age. 
His  remains  were  interred  with  uncommon  respect, 
Mr.  Mather  of  Dorchester  preached  his  funeral  ser- 
mon, Zech.  i.  5.     Our  father  Sy  "where  are  they  ?^ 

•  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  printed  tlie  life  of  IVIr.  Wilson,  from 
which  a  number  of  facts  were  taken.  Some  likewise  from  Prince's 
annals,  who  collected  further  accounts  of  him.  Mr.  Wilson  pub- 
lished many  poems,  anagrams,  8cc.  in  Latin  and  English.  None 
of  his  theological  tracts  have  come  down  to  us.  A  sermon  of  his 
was  printed,  taken  in  short  hand,  by  one  of  his  hearers.  When 
he  was  young,  his  preaching  was  very  methodical.  Several  judi- 
cious men  in  England  followed  him,  on  account  of  his  excellent 
discourses;  and  when  he  first  came  to  New  England,  Mr.  Shep- 
ard  said,  "  Methinks  I  hear  an  apostle  when  1  hear  this  man." 
In  his  old  age,  his  sermons  were  made  up  of  exhortations,  and 
niig)it  be  compared  "  to  a  good  kind  of  talking."  This  may  be 
a  reason  why  he  published  no  more,  while  his  colleagues  sent  s», 
many  works  to  the  press. 


WIN  4^9 

An  observation  of  Dr.  Ames,  the  celebrated  pro- 
fessor, deserves  to  be  recorded  to  the  honour  of 
Mr.  Wilson,  ''  that  if  he  might  have  his  option  of 
the  best  condition  this  side  heaven,  it  would  be  the 
f  teacher  of  a  congregational  church  of  which  Mr. 
Wilson  was  pastor." 

That  witty  writer,  Mr.  Ward,  author  of  the  sim- 
ple cob'.er  of  Agawam,  remarking  the  hospitality  of 
Mr.  Wilson,  and  knowing  that  he  was  fond  of  ana- 
grams, said,  that  the  anagram  of  John  Wilson  was, 
''  Ppray  come  in,  you  are  heartily  welcome."  This 
anecdote  is  better  attested,  than  one  lately  given  to 
the  publick  about  this  same  Mr.  Ward,  concerning 
his  interview  with  Dr.  Mather,  who  refused  him 
even  entrance  to  his  house.  Mr.  Peters,  who  re- 
lates this,  did  not  recollect  that  Dr.  Mather  was  not 
one  of  the  same  generation. 

Win  SLOW  Edward,  governour  of  Plymouth 
colony,  was  born  in  the  year  1694.  He  was  an 
English  gentleman  of  Worcestershire,  who  travel- 
led over  Europe,  and  joined  Mr.  Robinson's  church 
at  Leyden.  He  came  over  to  New  England  with 
the  first  planters,  and  his  name  appears  conspicuous 
among  those  who  subscribed  **  the  covenant  of  in- 
corporation," at  Cape  Cod.  His  address  and  activ- 
ity made  him  very  useful  to  the  company,  and  his 
eminent  services  are  mentioned  by  every  writer  who 
gives  an  account  of  the  landing  of  our  fathers,  or 
the  circumstances  of  their  settlement.  Having  lost 
his  wife  among  those  who  died  the  first  winter,  he 
married  the  widow  of  William  White,  May  12, 
1621.  This  is  the  first  marriage  which  ever  took 
place  in  New  t.ngland.  The  lady  was  also  the  mo- 
ther of  the  first  child  born  in  this  newly  discovered 
region.  His  name  was  Peregrine,  who  lived  to  the 
age  of  83  years,  8  months,  and  died,  July  20,  1704. 

Mr.  Winslow  several  times  visited  Massasoit, 
the  sachem  of  the  Indians  who  dwelt  nearest  the 
English  settlement,  of  which  he  gives  an  account  in 
his  own  journal,  which  happily  has  been  preserved. 


500  WIN 

It  makes  part  of  the  invaluable  collections  of  Pur- 
chase, and  is  printed  by  Dr.  Belknap,  in  the  appen- 
dix to  the  American  biography.  Mr.  Winslovv  al- 
so  made  another  excursion  to  the  bay  of  Penobscot, 
in  1622,  to  procure  bread  froni  the  vessels,  fishing 
upon  the  eastern  coasts.  He  obtained  a  present 
supply,  and  this  led  to  a  beneficial  traffick  with  the 
natives.  The  next  year  he  went  to  England,  and, 
after  an  absence  of  six  months,  arrived  at  Plymouth 
with  provisions,  cloathing,  and  neat  cattle.  He  went 
back  to  Great  Britain,  and  again  returned  to  the 
plantation  in  1625.  He  was  chosen  one  of  the  as- 
sistants. In  this  office  he  continued  till  1633,  and 
was  then  elected  governour.  Mr.  Bradford  impor- 
tuned him  to  take  the  office.  These  virtuous  men 
entered  into  competition,  not  like  the  politicians 
of  this  world,  but  like  the  rulers  of  a  christian 
commonwealth,  "  in  honour  preferring  one  ano- 
ther."  In  1635,  Mr.  Winslow  was  employed  a$ 
agent  for  the  colonies  of  Plymouth  and  Massachu- 
setts at  the  British  court.  He  transacted  the  busi- 
ness much  to  their  satisfaction,  but  subjected  him- 
self to  peculiar  trials  and  difficulties.  By  order  of 
archbishop  Laiid,  that  archfiend  to  the  puritans,  he  was 
comniitted  to  prison.  A  complaint  was  made  against 
him  by  Thomas  Morton  of  ''  Merry  mount,"  who 
gave  information,  that  Mr.  Winslow  preached  to  the 
people  at  Plymouth,  and  married  without  license. 
Mr.  W.  acknowledged,  *'  that  sometimes,  when  the 
church  was  destitute  of  a  minister,  he  exercised  his 
gift  for  the  edification  of  the  brethren."  He  also 
acknowledged  the  fact  of  his  marrying  people  ;  but 
he  considered  marriage  ^^  as  a  civil  contract,  and 
had  been  himself  married  by  a  Dutch  magistrate  in 
Holland."  He  was  confined  several  months  in  the 
Fleet  prison.  When  he  returned  to  Plymouth, 
1636,  he  was  elected  governour  ;  but  the  year  suc- 
ceeding took  his  place  among  the  magistrates.  In 
1643,  he  was  appointed  a  commissioner  of  the 
united  colonies.     In  1646,  he  was  persuaded  to  go 


WiM  501 

bnce  morie  to  England,  to  answer  to  the  complaints 
of  Gorton  and  others  against  the  colony.  While  he 
was  ill  England,  his  pious  and  benevolent  mind  was 
bent  to  an  object  which  has  since  been  pursued  by 
christians  of  various  denominations,  "  the  propaga- 
tion  of  the  gospel  among  the  Indians."  This  cor- 
poration, under  the  name  of  *'  the  London  society," 
was  continued  till  the  American  revolution. 

In  1655,  Mr.  Winslow  was  appointed  one  of  the 
three  commissioners  to  superintend  the  operations 
of  the  fleet  sent  tb  the  West  Indies.  Admiral  Penn 
and  gen.  Venables  made  an  attack  on  St.  Domingo, 
but  were  defr'ated.  They  took  Jamaica;  but  in  their 
passage  from  one  island  to  the  other,  Mr,  Winslow 
fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  diseases  of  the  climate.  His 
body  was  committed  to  the  deep,  with  the  honours 
of  war,  42  guns  being  fired,  May  8,  1655.  Morton, 
Prince,   Belknap, 

Winslow  Josiah,  son  of  that  illustrious  man, 
Edward  Winslow,  had  all  his  father's  great  and 
good  qualities.  He  was  the  first  governour  who 
was  born  in  New  England.  Having  been  a  magis- 
trate several  years,  he  succeeded  Mr.  Prince  in  the 
government,  1673,  and  was  annually  chosen,  till 
1680.  He  had  what  may  be  called  a  liberal  educa- 
tion for  this  country,  and  discovered  much  good 
sense  in  his  management  of  publick  affairs.  As  a 
military  officer  he  possessed  skill,  address  and  bra- 
very. In  1656,  when  Alexander,  the  eldest  son 
of  Massasoit,  was  suspected  of  plotting  against  the 
English  with  the  Narragansetts,  Mr.  Winslow, 
with  several  armed  men,  took  him  by  surprise, 
which  put  an  end  to  his  machination ;  but  his 
breast  swelled  with  rage,  and  his  passion  brought 
on  a  fever,  which  was  fatal.  In  1675,  Philip, 
the  youngest  son,  stirred  up  all  the  natives  against 
the  English.  Mr.  Winslow  v^^rote  to  the  gover- 
nour  of  Massachusetts,  "  that  he  could  not  learn  that 
Philip  pretended  any  v/rong  done  to  him  by  the 
English,  but  suspected  that  he  should  be  made  to 


502  WIN 

answer  for  the  murder  of  John  Sausaman,"  a  chris- 
tian Indian,  whom  the  Indians  of  xMount  Hope  hated 
on  this  very  account.  Sensible  of  the  prowess  of 
gov.  Winslovv,  the  enemy  tried  every  way  to  cut 
him  off;  but  he  was  not  to  be  moved  with  their 
threats.  In  the  month  of  ')eceml>er  he  command- 
ed the  forces  that  attacked  the  Indians  in  their  strong 
holds,  and  slew  1100  of  them.  This  gave  him  a 
high  reputation  among  his  countrymen,  and  made 
the  savages  dread  him.  Gov.  Winslovv  died  at 
Marshfield,  Dec.  18,  1680,  in  the  52d  year  of  his 
age. 

Win  SLOW  Isaac,  son  of  gov.Winslow,  was  pre^ 
aident  of  the  provincial  council,  and  the  chief  mil- 
itary officer  in  the  colony.      He  died,  1738. 

WiNSLow  John,  major  general,  was  also  a  dis- 
tinguished character  in  the  colony  ;  nor  was  his  ce- 
lebrity confined  to  New  England.  He  commanded 
a  company  in  the  regiment,  that  was  sent  to  Cuba 
in  1740.  He  had  a  commission  in  the  line  ot  the 
British  troops,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  major  gene- 
ral. He  was  the  chief  in  command  in  several  ex- 
peditions to  Kennebeck.  He  was  brave  as  a  sol- 
dier, and  an  excellent  military  officer.  His  son, 
Dr.  Isaac  Winslow,  is  now  living  in  Marshfield  up- 
on the  family  estate.  The  general  died,  1774, 
aged  71.      Morton     Hutchinson.    Belknap. 

WiNTHROP  John,  governour  of  Massachusetts^ 
was  the  son  of  Adam  Winthrop,  esq.  of  Groton,  in 
Suifolk.  He  was  born  June  12,  1587.  When  he 
was  18  years  old  he  had  such  a  knowledge  of  juris- 
prudence, as  to  be  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
The  family  estate  was  large  ;  but  he  converted  it 
into  diffi^rent  property,  that  he  might  come  over  to 
America.  So  pious  a  man  would  prefer  an  un- 
cultivated country  where  he  could  enjoy  his  relig- 
ion to  ease  and  affluence  amidst  those  who  were 
of  a  persecuting  spirit.  In  1630  he  brought 
over  the  charter,  and  arrived  at  Salem,  June 
12.      He  was  chosen  goveritour  several  years  sue- 


W  I  N  503. 

«essively  ;   but  for  the  sake  of  a  rotine  among  the 
magistrates,  Mr.  Dudley  was  put  into  his  place,  and 
Ludlow,   a   west  countryman  of  line  abilities  and 
great  intrigue,  was  chosen  deputy.     The  next  year 
Mr.  Ludlow  tried  for  the  chief  place,  but  was  disap- 
pointed of  both.    He  therefore  went  to  Connecticut, 
as  related  in  the  sketch  of  his  life.       In  1636,  Mr. 
W.   being  deputy  governour,  had  need   of  all  his 
wisdom  and  integrity  to  prevent  the  consequences 
of  sir  H.  Vane's  rash  proceedings,  and  to  calm  the 
religious  commotions,  which  made  confusion  in  the 
metropolis.     He  met  with  other  tioubles,  which  af- 
fected his  ingenuous  mind,  because  his  intentions 
were  pure,  and  his  aim  was  to  serve  the  people.    Vo 
be  injured  by  those  we  love,  and  exert  ourselves  to 
serve,  is  a  severe  trial  of  the  heart ;  but  he  bore  even 
these  trials  with  meekness,  and  benevolent  wishes 
to  the  country.    He  was  conf^cious  of  rectitude  ;  and 
whenever  the  people   had  time  for  consideration, 
they  found  him  to  be  a  most  faithful  magistrate,  and 
wise  and  prudent  man,  who  always  sought  their  in- 
terest to  the  sacrifice  of  his  own.      When  he  left 
England  he  possessed  a  very  catholic  spirit.  He  was 
more  of  a  puritan  in  New  England  from  his  acquain- 
tance with  Dudley,  Endicot  and  others,  who  thought 
toleration  a  crime,  and  that  no  kind  of  religious 
sentiments  should  be  suffered  to  prevail,  except  what 
they  had  imbibed  :  before  his  death,  he  expressed 
a  wish  that  more  moderation  had  been  used  towards 
persons  accounted  hereticks.       He  suffered  great 
losses  of  a  pecuniary  nature  by  the  bad  management 
of  his  steward ;  such  depredations  were  made  o-n  his 
property  as  excited  the  compassion  of  the  people, 
who  exerted  themselves  to  assist  him  by  publick 
and  private  contributions.   This  great  and  good  man 
also  met  with  domestick  affliction  in  a  more  tender 
part,  in  the  breaches  that  were  made  upon  his  fam- 
ily. Ill  health  of  body  affected  his  mind,  and  he  died, 
26th  of  March,  1649,  in  the  63d  year  of  his  age. 
He  left  a  journal  of  events  from  the  settlement  of 


104  WIN 

the  colony  to  his  death.  An  island  in  the  harbour 
of  Boston  bears  his  name,  and  is  still  in  the  posses- 
sion of  one  of  his  descendants.  His  picture  is  pre- 
served  in  the  council  chamber.  Several  of  his  pos- 
terity have  exhibited  the  image  of  their  illustrious 
ancestor,  and  his  family  have  been  more  eminent  for 
their  talents,  learning  and  honours  than  any  other 
in  New  England  * 

WiNTHRop  John,  governour  of  Connecticut, 
eldest  son  of  the  first  governour  of  Massachusetts, 
was  born  in  England,  1605,  was  educated  at  the 
university  of  Cambridge,  and  travelled  over  the 
greatest  part  of  Europe.  In  16^3,  he  came  oyer  to 
this  country,  and  was  chosen  a  magistrate  of  the  col- 
ony  of  Massachusetts.  The  spot  which  he  preferred 
for  a  dwelling,  was  Agawam,  where  he  went  with  12 
men,  to  begin  a  plantation.  They  called  it  Ipswich. 
There  his  first  son  wa§  born.  He  went  back  to 
England;  but  in  the  same  year  came  over  to  Ameri- 
ca with  a  commission  from  lord  Say  and  Seal, 
lord  Brook  and  others,  to  be  governour  of  their  plan- 
tation, at  Connecticut.  A  fort  was  built  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  and  the  spot  calle4  Say  brook, 
in  compliment  to  the  noble  lords  who  owned  the 
land.  In  1651  he  was  chosen  a  magistrate  of  this 
people,  and  then  deputy  governour.  and  after- 
wards governour.  In  1662  he  was  agent  at  the  court 
of  Charles  II.  and  obtained  a  charter  for  the  colony 
pf  Connecticut.  An  account  of  this  agency  is  cel- 
ebrated in  poetick  strains,  by  one  pf  his  successors, 
Boger  Wolcott,  esq.f  He  was  annually  chosen 
chief  magistrate  to  the  time  of  his  death.  In 
the  spring  of  1676,  upon  a  visit  to  Boston,  he  was 
taken  sick,  and  expired  April  5th,  and  was  buried 
in  the  same  tomb  with  his  father.  He  was  one  of 
the  greatest  philosophers  of  the  age  ;  and  his  name 
is  among  the  founders  pf  the  royal  society  of  Lon- 


•  A  very  interesting  and  particular  part  of  Belknap's  Americai) 
Biography,  is  the  life  of  gov.  Winthrop. 


t  Historical  collections,  vol.  iv.  *^ 


W  I  N  505 

don.  The  great  Mr.  Boyle,  bishop  Wilkins,  with 
several  other  learned  men,  had  proposed  to  leave 
England,  and  establish  a  society  for  promoting  natu- 
ral knowledge  in  the  new  colony  of  which  Mr.  Win- 
throp,  their  intimate  friend  and  associate,  was  ap- 
pointed governour.  Such  men  were  too  valuable  to 
lose  from  Great  Britain,  and  Charles  II.  having  taken 
them  under  his  protection,  the  society  was  there  es- 
tablished,  and  obtained  the  title  of  the  royal  society  of 
London,  It  was  soon  considered  as  the  most  learned 
society  in  Europe.  Mr.  Winthrop  sent  over  many 
specimens  of  the  productions  of  this  country,  with 
his  remarks  upon  them,  **  and,  by  an  order  of  the 
royal  society,  he  was  in  a  particular  manner  invited 
to  take  upon  himself  the  charge  of  being  the  chief 
correspondent  in  the  West,  as  sir  Philiberio  Vernatti 
was  in  the  East  Indies."  **  His  name,"  says  the  same 
writer,  who  w^as  secretary  to  this  society  in  1 74 1 , ''  had 
he  put  it  to  his  writings,  would  have  been  as  uni- 
versally known,  as  the  Boyles',  the  Wilkins',  and 
Oldenburghs',  and  been  handed  down  to  us  with 
similar  applause."  Dedication  of  the  ^Oth  voly,m6 
fif  philosophical  transactions^  ^c, 

Winthrop  Fitz  John,  son  of  John  Winthrop, 
esq.  first  governour  of  Connecticut,  was  born  at 
Ipswich,  1638.  He  was  a  magistrate  of  the  colony, 
and  major  general.  In  1693  he  was  appointed  agent 
of  the  colony  to  present  a  petition  to  king  William 
to  secure  their  charter  rights;  and  when  he  returned, 
at  the  election,  May,  1698,  he  was  chosen  gover- 
nour. He  resembled  his  father  in  fine  accomplish- 
ments, had  an  excellent  moral  character, was  famous 
for  his  philosophical  knowledge,  and  was  elected  a  fel- 
low  of  the  royal  society  :  he  was  also  famous  for  his 
skill  in  politicks.  This  he  manifested  when  he  was  at 
the  court  of  Great  Britain  :  his  conduct  there  was  so 
pleasing  to  the  people  of  Connecticut,  that  they  not 
only  voted  him  thanks  for  his  successful  agency, 
but,  as  a  further  testimony  of  their  esteem,  present- 
ed him  with  500  pounds  for  th^  services  render^do 
3  R 


506  WIN 

The  colony  sustained  a  great  loss  by  his  death.  He 
4ied  at  Boston,  of  the  stone,  Nov.  27,  1707.  Har^ 
ris^s  mss.     TrumbuWs  history  of  Connecticut. 

WiNTHROP  John,  F.  R  S.  grandson  of  the  first 
governour  of  Connecticut,  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  1700.     He  v^as  a  magistrate  in  the  colony 
of   Connecticut ;    but  left  this   country,   went  to 
England,  and  there  passed  the  rest  of  his  days.    He 
died  in  the  year  1747.  To  this  gentlen^an  the  '*  40th 
volume  of  the  transactions  of  the  royal  society'* 
was  dedicated  by  Dr.  Cromwell  Mortimer  their  se- 
cretary.    It  seems  he  left  America   on  account  of 
some  contention  between  his  family  and  the  govern- 
ment of  Connecticut.*      He  was  elected  a  fellow  of 
the  royal  society,  and  was  distinguished  as  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  members  of  that  learned  body. 
He  was  also  esteemed  and  courted  by  learned  and 
good  men  for  his  ''  extraordinary  skill  in  the  deep 
mysteries  of  the  hermetic  science." 
.  WiNTHROP  John,  L  L.  D.  F.  R.  S.  was  the  son 
of  the  honourable  Adam  Winthrop,  esq,  one  of  his 
majesty's  council  in  Ntassachusetts.      The  grand- 
father and  great  grandfather  were  also  honourable 
men,  each  named  Adam,  and  the  eldest  a  son  of  the 
first  governour.     The  subject  of  the  present  article 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,   1732.     He  was 
then  an  amiable  youth,  and  one  of  the  first  scho, 

*  «  When  the  injustice  and  ingratitude  of  a  reigninpj  party  in 
power  among  that  very  people,  whereof  the  Winihiops  have  been 
always  in  the  most  strict  sense  the  fathers,  the  patres  patriae,  had 
most  cruelly  driven  you  from  your  family  and  native  soil,  to  seek 
justice  and  security  in  your  natural  rights  from  the  hands  of  our 
most  gracious  sovereign  ;  amidst  the  vexations  of  the  greatest 
abuses,  and  the  hurries  of  the  most  sudden  departure,  you  were 
not  unmindful  of  the  royal  society ;  for  soon  after  your  being 
chosen  a  fellow,  you  increased  the  riches  of  their  repository  with 
more  than  600  curious  specimens,  chiefly  in  the  mineral  king^ 
dom,  accompanied  with  an  accurate  account  of  each  particular; 
thereby  shewing  your  great  skill  in  natural  philosophy,  and  at  the 
same  time  intimating  to  England  the  vast  riches  which  lie  hidden 
in  the  lap  of  her  principal  daughter.  Since  Mr.  Colwell,  the 
founder  of  x\xt  museum  of  the  royal  society,  you  have  been  the 
benefactor  who  has  given  the  most  numerous  collection,"  &c. 


WIN  S07 

iars  in  his  class.  In  1738  he  succeeded  Mr.  Green, 
wood,  as  Hollis  professor  of  mathematicks  and  nat- 
ural philosophy,  and  was  more  eminent  for  his  schol- 
arship, than  any  other  man   in  New  England.     In 
mathematical  science  he  was  considered  as  the  first 
in   America  during  the  40  years  he  continued  pre 
fessor  at  Cambridge.     In  the  year   1740,  he  made 
observations  upon  the  transit  of  Mercury,  which 
were  printed  in  the  transactions  of  the  royal  society; 
in    1755  he  printed  a  lecture  iipon  earthquakes, 
and  1756  a  letter  to  the  rev.  Mr.  Prince,  who  made 
observations  upon  the  professor's  opinion  ;  two  lec- 
tures upon  comets  in  1759.    In  the  year  1761  there 
was  a  transit  of  Venus  over  the  sun's  disk,  and,  as 
Newfoundland  was  the  most  western  part  of  the  earth 
where  the  end  of  the  transit  could  be  observed,   it 
was  an  object  with  the  literati,  to  have  observations 
made  in  that  place.      Mr.  W.  offered  his  services 
to  go  there,   and  the  general  court  made  provision 
for  his  voyage.    He  took  with  him  two  pupils,  who 
had  made  progress  in  mathematical  studies,*  and 
sailed  from  Boston,  May  9th,       The  sixth  of  June 
was    a   fine   day   for  observing  the  transit  of  the 
planet,  and  he  gained  high  reputation  when   these 
observations  were  published.    In  1769  he  had  anoth- 
er opportunity  of  observing  the  transit  of  Venus  at 
Cambridge.      As  it  w^as  the  last  opportunity  that 
generation  could  be  favoured  with,  he  was  desirous 
to  arrest  the  attention  of  the  people.     He  read  two 
lectures  upon  the  subject  in  the  college  chapel, 
which  the  students  requested  him  to  publish.    The 
professor  put  this  motto  upon  the  title  page,   agite 
mortales  I     et  oculos  in  spectaculum  vertite,  quod 
hucusce    spectaverunt   perpaucissimi  ;    spectaturi 
iterum  sunt  nulli. 

He  received  literary  honoui's  from  other  countries 
beside  his  own.    The  royal  society  of  London  elect* 

*  Samuel  Williams,  who  succeeded  him  in  the  professorship, 
and  Isaac  Rand,  who  was  lately  president  of  the  medical  society 
«£  Massachusetts* 


SD8  WIN 

ed  him  a  member  ;  and  the  university  of  Edinburgh 
gave  him  a  diploma  of  L  L.  D.  In  1767,  he  wrote 
C agitata  de  cometis,  which  he  dedicated  to  the  royal 
society,  as  a  testimony  of  respect  after  he  was  ad- 
mitted into  their  body.  This  was  reprinted  in  Lon- 
don the  next  year.  Professor  W.  was  an  excellent 
classical  scholar,  and  also  a  biblical  critick.  Some 
of  his  criticisms  are  published  in  Dr.  (Jiauncy's 
book,  entitled,  **  salvation  for  all  men."  The  Dr. 
acknowledges  the  assistance  he  received  from  the 
learned  professor,  and  always  spake  of  him,  as  one 
of  the  greatest  theologians  he  ever  met  with. 

The  active  services  of  Dr.  Winthrop  were  not 
confined  to  the  duties  of  his  professorship  at  Cam- 
bridge. He  was  a  brilliant  star  in  our  political 
hemisphere.  The  family  of  Winthrops  had  always 
been  distinguished  for  their  love  of  freedom,  and  the 
charter  rights  of  the  colonies.  When  Great  Britain 
made  encroachments  upon  these,  by  acts  of  parlia- 
ment after  the  peace  of  Paris,  in  1763,  he  stepped 
forth  among  those,  who  boldly  opposed  the  mea- 
sures of  the  crown.  He  had  much  influence  Irom 
his  knowledge,  and  the  weight  of  his  character. 
He  was  chosen  one  of  his  majesty  *s  council  when 
Hutchinson  vvas  in  the  chair  of  government,  who 
did  not  negative  him ;  but  in  the  year  1774,  a  royal 
mandate  was  issued  to  negative  three  gentlemen, 
who  had  been  most  active  in  opposing  the  measures 
of  the  administration.  These  were  Mr.  Bowdoin, 
Mr.  Dexter,  and  Mr.  Winthrop.  When  the  people 
took  the  government  into  their  own  hands,  he  was 
again  chosen  one  of  the  council,  and  continued  in 
his  publick  character  till  his  death. 

The  best  part  of  Dr.  Winthrop's  character  was,  that 
he  was  a  christian  philosopher.  He  believedthe  truths 
of  Christianity  from  study  and  conviction,  and  was 
an  ornament  to  his  profession.  To  his  numerous 
acquaintance,  he  vvas  a  '*  friend,  philosopher  and 
guide."  He  had  the  consolations  of  our  divine  re* 
ligion  j  during  his  latter  years, when  his  bodily  frame 


W  O  L  905 

\vas  subject  to  pain  and  infirmities.  His  mind  con* 
tinned  strong,  his  failh  was  steadfast,  and  his  views 
spiritual  and  pure.   He  died,  May  3,  1779,  aged  65, 

WoLcoTT  Roger,  governour  of  Connecticut, 
was  born  in  Windsor,  1679.  He  made  his  first  ap- 
pearance in  publick  life,  as  an  officer  in  the  army 
that  went  to  Canada  in  1711.  He  was  aftef wards 
colonel  of  the  militia,  and  was  commander  of  the 
Connecticut  forces  when  Cape  Breton  was  taken  by 
the  Americans  in  1745,  He  was  employed  in  ma- 
ny civil  offices,  which  he  filled  with  reputation,  and 
discharged  with  fidelity.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
general  assembly,  assistant,  deputy  governour. 
chief  judge  of  the  superior  court,  and,  in  the  year 
1751,  succeeded  Mr.  Law  in  the  chair  of  government. 
In  1754,  he  resigned  his  publick  honours,  and  pass- 
ed the  rest  of  his  days  in  the  shades  of  retirement. 
The  evening  of  his  days  was  gilded  by  the  reflec- 
tion of  a  well  spent  life.     He  died  May  17,  1767, 

Gov.  Wolcott  had  not  the  advantage  even  of  a 
common  education  ;  but  the  resources  of  his 
mind  were  great.  His  private  affairs  he  managed 
with  discretion.  He  was  fond  of  books,  conversed 
upon  literary  subjects  with  ease,  and  was  highly  re- 
spected by  gentlemen  of  the  first  abilities  in  the  col- 
ony. He  wrote  and  published  several  works  in 
poetry  and  prose.  His  account,  in  poetry,  of  the 
agency  of  gov.  Winthrop,  in  1662.  was  lately  re- 
printed in  the  4th  volume  of  the  collections  of  the 
Massachusetts  historical  society  ;  it  makes  one  of 
his  poetical  meditations,  published  in  1725,  in  a 
small  volume.  These  resemble  the  jingle  of  the 
early  productions  of  New  England  rather  than 
the  versification  of  later  days.  In  1760  he 
engaged  in  a  controversy,  which  then  agitated  the 
churches  of  Connecticut.  In  the  year  preceding, 
Mr  Hobart  of  Fairfield  wrote  a  book,  entitled, 
"  The  principles  of  the  congregational  churches 
considered,  and  applied  to  the  ordination  at  Wal- 
lingford."     The  settlement  of  Mr.  Dana,  who  now 


SlO  WOL 

ranks  among  the  distins;uished  writers  and  divines 
of  New  England,  at  Wallingfordj  gave  great  offence 
to  the  neighbouring  clergy.  The  ordination  was 
contrary  to  the  rules  of  the  Say  brook  platform,  and 
Mr.  Hobart  highly  censured  the  proceedings.  Mr. 
Hart  wrote  remarks  upon  Mr.  Hobart's  book,  and 
Mr.  Wolcott  also  addressed  a  letter  to  him,  wherein 
he  compares  the  Cambridge  and  Say  brook  platform; 
and  proves  the  latter  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  gen. 
eral  principles  of  toleration,  and  religious  freedom. 
Mr.  Hobart  replied  to  Mr.  Hart  in  1761.  We  have 
no  answer  to  the  letter  of  Mr,  Wolcott,  which  is 
dated  April  25,  1760. 

Wolcott  Oliver,  LL.  D.  governourof  Con- 
necticut,  was  the  son  of  Roger  Wolcott,  and  pos- 
sessed his  father's  talents  and  virtues,  with  a  mind 
improved  by  a  liberal  education.  He  was  educated 
at  Yale  College,  and  received  his  degree  in  1747. 
He  then  applied  his  mind  to  the  study  of  physick, 
and  had  an  extensive  practice  in  the  town  of  Litch- 
field. He  had  a  taste  for  publick  life,  and  was  well 
versed  in  the  laws  and  politicks  of  New  England. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  high  sheriff  of  the 
county  of  Litchfield.  He  was  among  the  high  whigs 
who  resisted  the  oppressive  acts  of  the  mother  coun- 
try. In  1776,  we  find  his  name  among  those  who 
signed  the  declaration  of  independence.  From  that 
time  he  was  annually  chosen  a  member  of  congress 
till  the  year  1785,  when  he  was  appointed  deputy 
governour,  and  continued  in  this  office  till  gov. 
Huntington  died  in  1796.  He  was  then  advanced  to 
the  chair;  but  died  the  next  year  in  December,  1797. 

His  character  was  very  respectable  in  private  life, 
and  in  every  publick  station.  He  was  a  gentleman 
and  scholar,  very  liberal  in  his  sentiments,  and  also 
a  friend  to  the  constitution  of  the  New  England 
churches.  By  some  he  might  be  considered  as  too 
liberal,  as  his  ideas  of  moral  agency  were  different 
from  many  of  the  clergy.  He  frequently  expressed 
his  opinion  that  necessarian  principles  ought  not  to 


YAL  511 

be  proparjated  with  theological  opinions  ;  that  it  was 
an  injury  to  the  cause  of  morality,  as  people  did 
not  distinguish  between  the  doctrine  of  necessity, 
and  conxmon  notions  of  fate.  In  this  he  differed 
from  some  excellent  characters,  and  agreed  with 
others,  equally  wise  and  good.  He  had  a  humble 
view  of  himself,  though  others  thought  highly  of  his 
abilities.  Having  lived  a  religious  life,  he  enjoyed 
the  hope  of  a  christian,  looking  for  a  reward,  as  well 
as  rest  from  his  labours. 

WooDBRiDGE  Benjamin,  first  graduate of  Har- 
vard College,  in  1642,  was  an  eminent  scholar,  and 
an  excellent  preacher.  He  left  America,  and  settled 
at  Newbury,  Berks,  as  successor  to  the  great  Dr. 
Twiss.  In  1662  he  was  ejected  from  the  parish; 
but  afterwards  preached  by  a  particular  indulgence 
of  the  king,  who  had  a  very  favourable  opinion  of 
him.     He  died,  1684. 

Yale  Elihu,  a  friend  to  learning  and  religion, 
was  born  at  New  Haven,  1648  ;   and  when  he  was 
very   young,  was  carried  to   England.      He   wa^ 
brought  up  to  merchandize,   and,  by  his  industry 
and  attention  to  business,  grew  rich,  and  also  gained 
publick  esteem.     At  the  age  of  40  he  sailed  to  the 
East  Indies.     He  was  there  appointed  commander 
of  fort  St.  George.     When  he  returned  to  London 
he  was  chosen  president  of  the  East  India  company. 
He  sought  opportunities  of  doing  good,  and  either 
founded,  or  encouraged,  many  literary,  pious  and 
useful  institutions.      In  the  year  1717,  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather  wrote  to  Mr.  Yale,  and  advised  him  to  pre- 
sent a  liberal  donation  to  the  college  at  New  Haven. 
They  will  name  the  college  after  you,  said  he,  and 
that  will  be  better  than  to  have  sons  and  daugh- 
ters.    In  a  letter  to  gov.  Saltonstall,  the  Doctor 
tells  him,  that  the  college  had  better  be  named  Yale. 
and  says  something  handsome  will  be  given.  Hence 
the  name  of  Yale  College  was  given  to  one  of  the 
most  respectable  seminaries  of  New  England. 


EUR.VTA  ET  ADDENDA. 

Page  3,  line  8,  from  bottom,  for  1701,  read  1721  ;  p.  4, 1.  11,  fr.  tcp^ 
dele  in  J  p.  5,  1-  2,  fr.  top,  for  1778,  read  1775  ;  p.  20.  1.  3  fr  bot.  for 
1737,  read  1697  ;  p.  21,  K  7,  fr,  top,  for  proposition,  read  propositions  ,-  p. 
24,  l.'a,  fr.  bottom,  tor  year,  read  years  y  p.  24,  1,  8,  fr  bot.  for  1771,  read 
1778  ;  p.  31,  1.  14  fr.  top,  for  or,  read /or  ,•  p.  47, 1.  8,  fr  top  for  composi- 
tion, Te?i.d  compositions  /  p,  48,  1.  15.  fr.  top,  for  preventative,  vtad preuenti-ve  ^ 
p.  51,  I.  6,  fr,  bot  for  Mr.  H.  read  Mr.  H,  p.  73,  1.  4,  fr.  bot-  for  1740,  read 
1748  ;  p.  75, 1 .  16,  fr.  bot.  for  less  read  more  y  76,  1.  16,  fr.  top,  read  one  of  the 
fifteen  ;  p.  76. 1  22,  fr.  top,  dele  of,-  p  78, 1.  24,  fr.  top,  for  1720,  read  1721  ; 
p.  78,  1.  3,  fr.  bot.  read  Colman  j  p.  84.  1.  4,  fr.  bot.  dele  harve ,-  p.  8  6,  1.  5, 
fr.  top,  C  for  c ;  p.  91,  I.  14,  fr-  bot.  add.  except  a  preface  to  Rof:er  Wolcott's 
meditations,  and  an  ordination  sermon,  preaclied  at  Colchester,  1729  ;  p  97, 1. 
18.  fr.  bot.  for  1630,  read  1621  ;  p.  99,  1  14  fr  bot.  for  prasidem,  read  prcs- 
sidem  s  p  100,  1-  6,  fr  top,  for  imperato.  read  imperatore  j  p.  101,1.  9  fr.  top, 
for  Intergerrimi,  read  Jntegerrimi ;  p  101,1.  12,  fr.  top,  read  liberali ;  p.  101, 
1.  16,  fr.  top,  dele  LC  s  p.  106,  1.  6,  fr.  top,  after  is,  read  in  s  p.  107,  1.  12, 
fr.  bot.  for  scriptures,  read  scripture  ;  p.  110,  1  19,  fr  bot,  de'e  to  ;  p.  113, 1. 
7,  fr.  top  for  built,  xt^A  gathered i  p.  119,  1.  12,  fr  bot.  read  everlasting  ;  p. 
121,  1.  4,  fr.  bot.  for  to,  read  of  i  p  122,  1.  20,  fr.  top,  read  continued  tilt  he 
ivent  to  England ;  p.  141,  1  3,  fr.  bot.  reai  discharged  nvith  fidelity  /  p.  143,  I. 
5,  fr,  bot.  for  well  wishes,  read  -well  -wishers,-  p.  146,  1  19  fr.  top,  for  1771, 
read  1671  ;  p.  146,  1.  25.  fr.  top,  for  1134,  read  1634  ;  p  154,  I.  6  fr.  bot. 
read  to  make  ;  p.  158,  1.  13,  fr.  bot.  for  White,  read  Wight  s  p,  162, 1.  2,  fr. 
top,  dele  no  s  p.  168,  1.  18,  fr.  bot  for  Dr.  read  Mr.  Eaton  ;  p.  179,  1.  5, 
fr.  bot.  rezA  loins  J  p.  181,  1.  6,  fr.  top,  for  character,  read  charity  s  p.  185, 
I.  4,  fr.  bot  for  whose,  read  -whom  ;  p.  192, 1.  5,  fr.  bot.  for  30,  read  IS  ; 
p.  213, 1  3,  fr.  top,  for  in,  read  into  y  p.  230,  1.  6,  fr,  bot.  for  bills,  read  bill  i 
p.  236,  1  5.  fr  top,  read  MDCCLXXXVI  ;  p  236,  1-  19.  fr.  top,  add, 
He  died  at  South  Carolina,  Oct,  12,  1745  >,  p  246,  1.  6,  fr  bot.  read  Nenv  Eng~ 
land  }  p.  264,  1.  4,  fr.  bot.  for  1779-  read  1780  ;  p.  273, 1.  10,  from  top,  dele 
toi  p.  289, 1.  5,  fr.  top,for  Dowes,  read  Da-wet  ;  p  30>,  1.  1,  fr,  top,  read  1776; 
p.  305  1.  10,  fr.  bot.  for  on,  read  or  ;  p.  313,  1.  17,  fr.  bot.  read  magistrate  i 
p.  331,  1.  9,  fr,  bot.  for  discharge,  read  discharged  }  p.  354,  1.  7,  fr.  bot, 
for  1770,  read  1760  ;  p.  355.  1,  4,  fr.  top,  for  tired,  read  tried i  p.  354,  K  10, 
fr.  bot.  read  council  s  p.  362,  1. 1,  fr.  bot  for  building,  read  entenng  i  p  3€2» 
la.  2  and  8,  fr.  bot.  for  Popkins,  read  Popkin  ;  p.  366,  1.  19.  fr.  top,  for  of, 
read  off ;  p.  366,  1.  22,  fr,  bot.  read,  4s  a  companion  he  was,  &c,  p.  367,  1. 
17,  fr.  bot,  dele  (7/7  ,•  p  369,  1 .  8,  fr  top.  for  do,  rea  !  doing  ;  page  370;  1  5, 
fr.  bot.  read  1757,  add.  artillery  election  sermon,  1756  -,  p  378,  1  7.  fr  bot, 
read  zealous  ;  p  379, 1  15,  fr.bot,  dele  //  -was ;  p  396,  1. 19,  fr.  bot.  for  had, 
read  ha-ve  ,•  p,  401,  1.  9,  fr.  top,  for  plead,  read  pleaded ;  p.  401,  I.  20,  fr.  bot. 
read  Quincys ,-  p.  420  1.  21  fr.  top,  for  1628,  read  1728  ;  p.  434,1.  2,  fr.  bot. 
lead  record  J  p.  461 , 1.  2,  fr  top,  read,  which  he  answered  -with  very  lively.  &c. 
p.  473,  1.  7,  fr.  bot.  for  of,  read  off  ,■  p,  487,  1.  18.  fr,  top,  for  86  read  77  ; 
|h  several  places  wh^Jte  etat  ie  mentioned,  the  fi«t  letter  should  be  a  dipthong 


'^y*', 


m 


*dsK>4eS; 


^#3 


•«?i 


^f/,  »-i;iv^^j'i 


S^»«l 


